Situation A Touch Input Device example essay topic

Computers can be intimidating. Educating oneself about some of the basics of computers can lessen this intimidation. In addition, a computer user will be able to get the results that he or she is hoping for. Input devices, output devices, storage, and computer speed are a few areas that will be discussed further. In order to maintain accurate records or create precise results, data input should be done with the best possible input device. I will give examples of a few situations and explain which input device would work best.

Printed Questionnaires- For this situation, I believe the most widely used input device, which is the keyboard, would work best. Questionnaires are made up of primarily letters and numbers that are easily found on a keyboard. Most people are familiar with a keyboard and creating a questionnaire should not be difficult. Telephone Survey- In this situation a touch input device may be a better choice, such as a touch screen. This way, the interviewee does not have to wait for the interviewer to finish typing. The touch screen would work best if there were multiple choice answers to the telephone survey.

Bank Checks- The MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) is used by the banking industry. This device can scan checks quickly and ensures that checks are sent to the proper bank. Retail Tags- Most stores now use a bar-code scanner for pricing. The bar code scanner recognizes a series of bars of different lengths and sends that code to the computer. Even small retail stores may have a handheld bar code scanner to make pricing and checkout more efficient. Long Documents- Though I have never used this device, a voice input device would make long documents much easier.

This requires special software and may require using the keyboard for editing. Because keyboards can cause injury, an individual that has to prepare many long documents may want to consider a voice input device. Just as accuracy and choosing the correct device for input is important, the same applies to output. Choosing the correct device can increase quality and convenience. In the following situations, I will share which output device I feel would work best: Hand held Computer- If an individual has a hand held computer; it is likely they are looking for mobility. Wireless data transfer would be ideal for this situation.

Color Photograph- A photo quality printer should be used for color photographs. Some desktop printers will work, but often times the color will fade over time. Resume- A laser printer is probably the best choice for a resume. Most people look for quality in the appearance of a resume and a laser printer has a better quality output than an ink-jet printer. Memorandum- Because memorandums usually take place in-house, it is not usually necessary that they are of the highest quality. Any draft resolution printer can be used.

Statistical Report- This report will need to be done on a letter quality printer if it is to be shared with anyone outside the organization. For in-house, a draft quality printer would be a fine choice. Company Annual Report- An annual report is usually shared with stockholders and often the public. For this reason, it should be printed on a letter quality printer.

A primary storage device stores input and output data but after the computer is turned off, this data is gone. The two types of primary storage are RAM and ROM. The data in ROM is not lost, but is only used to store data that is needed for basic operation. Secondary storage on the other hand is data that is stored and will remain available even after the computer has been turned off. This is where programs and data that will be needed at a later date are kept. Choosing the right storage device is important.

I will explain what situations would be most appropriate for the following devices Hard disk- This is a permanent memory on the computer. It is best used for system software and application hosting. Floppy disk- This is a good choice for smaller files that may need to be moved from one place to another. RAM- This is a memory that is only good for as long as the computer is turned on.

This can be used for spooled documents to the printer or viewing web pages. CD ROM- This disk is similar to a floppy disk, but has more room. This can be used for larger documents that still require some mobility. Tape- This may be used for back-up files in the event that an original document may be lost. In this last section, I will explain how each of the following devices determines the speed of a computer. RAM- Typically, the more RAM a computer has, the faster data can be processed.

Clock Speed- the more data than can be transferred between the processor and the primary storage device, the faster the computer. Data on hard disk- Often times, a person de fragments their hard drive so that related data can be stored adjacently. The more storage available may lead to faster processing. Data on CD ROM / Data on a floppy disk- The speed that the CD reader can read these disks and transfer the data to the processor determines how quickly this process takes. There is a lot to learn about computers, but knowing some of the basics will assist with operating the computer and handling each situation in the best way. Many people do not have all the best equipment for home use, but as a business, knowing the best way to handle input and output is critical to accuracy and quality.

It is also important to be aware of the storage devices and what method would be most appropriate for keeping files safe. Knowing the basic operations of the computer will assist any buyer who is looking for speed and quality.