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DA4. Advancement in I/O devices

Statement

Discuss a current advance in input/output

Answer

  • I/O devices are devices that are used to input data into a computer or output data from it.
  • In the past, I/O input devices were limited to keyboards and mice. And output devices were limited to monitors, printers, speakers, etc.
  • Nowadays, I/O devices are more advanced and can be used for many purposes.
  • The input ways have been expanded to include cameras, microphones, touch screens, biometric sensors (e.g. fingerprint, iris, etc.), and other sensors.
  • The output ways have been expanded to include virtual reality headsets, smartwatches, and even smart glasses.
  • One advancement this text discusses is wearable devices.
  • The wearable devices need to be small and light, hence they are limited in their capabilities and size; they usually contain a bunch of sensors and a small screen; and a network interface.
  • Wearable devices are used for many purposes, such as:
    • Health monitoring. heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.
    • Fitness. tracking steps, calories, etc.
    • Navigation. GPS, compass, etc.
    • Communication. phone calls, text messages, etc.
    • Entertainment. music, videos, games, etc.
  • Depending on the purpose and the capabilities of the device, the OS will use different methods to communicate with it.
  • The sensors are I/O devices that get data from the environment and send it to the OS of the wearable device. The Os of the wearable device sends this data again to its final destination, like a computer or cloud.

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