Page 168 - DCAP403_Operating System

Unit 9: I/O & Secondary Storage Structure

9.2 I/O Hardware Notes

I/O devices allow your managed system to gather, store, and transmit data. I/O devices are
found in the server unit itself and in expansion units and towers that are attached to the server.
I/O devices can be embedded into the unit, or they can be installed into physical slots.

Not all types of I/O devices are supported for all operating systems or on all server models.

Example: Switch Network Interface (SNI) adapters are supported only on certain server
models, and are not supported for i5/OS® logical partitions.

9.2.1 Input Device

A hardware device that sends information into the CPU is known as input device. Without any
input devices a computer would simply be a display device and not allow users to interact with
it, much like a TV. Below is a listing of different types of computer input devices.
Keyboard: One of the main input devices used on a computer, a PC’s keyboard looks very similar
to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys.

Figure 9.2: Keyboard

Mouse: An input device that allows an individual to control a mouse pointer in a graphical user
interface (GUI). Utilizing a mouse a user has the ability to perform various functions such as

opening a program or file and does not require the user to memorize commands, like those used
in a text-based environment such as MS-DOS. To the right is a picture of a Microsoft IntelliMouse
and is an example of what a mouse may look like.
Figure 9.3: Mouse

Touch Screen: A touch screen is a display which can detect the presence and location of a touch
within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the display of the device
by a finger or hand. Touch screens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus. However,

if the object sensed is active, as with a light pen, the term touch screen is generally not applicable.
The ability to interact directly with a display typically indicates the presence of a touch screen.

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