What are input and output devices, and how do you choose suitable devices for a task?
The purpose of input and output devices, examples of each, and choosing appropriate input and output devices for a given situation.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Computer Science Unit 1 content on input and output devices, covering the purpose of input devices and output devices, common examples of each, the idea of the computer as an input-process-output system, and how to choose suitable devices for a given situation.
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What this topic is asking
WJEC wants you to know the purpose of input and output devices, give examples of each, and choose suitable devices for a given situation. This is part of the Hardware content in Unit 1 of WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500).
Input devices
Output devices
The input-process-output model
Devices that are both input and output
Some devices do both jobs. A touchscreen displays output and also accepts input when you touch it, and a headset can combine headphones (output) with a microphone (input). When classifying a device, think about the direction the data is travelling.
Choosing suitable devices
Try this
Q1. State whether a microphone is an input or an output device. [1 mark]
- Cue. An input device (it sends sound data into the computer).
Q2. Suggest a suitable output device for a blind user and justify your choice. [2 marks]
- Cue. Speakers or headphones, because they can read information aloud, presenting output the user can hear.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style Unit 14 marksExplain the difference between an input device and an output device, giving two examples of each.Show worked answer →
A Unit 1 hardware question. An input device is used to send data into the computer for processing, for example a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone or a scanner (1 mark for the definition, 1 mark for two valid examples). An output device is used to present data from the computer to the user, for example a monitor, a printer, speakers or headphones (1 mark for the definition, 1 mark for two valid examples). Markers reward "into the computer" for input and "out to the user" for output, plus correct examples. A common error is to classify a touchscreen wrongly; a touchscreen is both an input and an output device.
WJEC-style Unit 13 marksA self-service supermarket checkout needs to read product barcodes, weigh items and show prices to the customer. Suggest a suitable input device and a suitable output device, justifying each choice.Show worked answer →
A Unit 1 applied question. A suitable input device is a barcode scanner, because it can read each product's barcode quickly and accurately to identify the item and its price (1 mark with justification). A weighing scale is another valid input device for checking item weight (this can earn the input mark). A suitable output device is a screen (monitor or touchscreen) to show the running total and prices to the customer, or a receipt printer to provide a printed record (1 mark with justification). The third mark is for a clear justification linking the device to the task (1 mark). Markers reward devices that fit the scenario with reasons, not just named devices. A common error is to name a device without saying why it suits the task.
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