Is a computer an input or output device

You might have wondered whether your computer monitor or computer are input devices or output devices? What about those touch screen devices that people use like touch screen monitors or modern smartphones? You might struggle with those answers. Well, we have got you covered. Our research team spent countless hours dissecting different computer monitors to get you the best and correct information possible, so all you have to do is kick back and read.

Computer monitor: input or output device

A computer monitor is an output device and not a input device because the computer monitor receives and displays the information from the computer. Therefore, your computer is an input device because it sends information from the processing unit to the computer monitor, but does not get information from the computer monitor. Examples of computer monitors are: cathode ray tube monitor, liquid crystal display monitor, and OLED monitor.

Input devices

Other input devices are:

• computer mouse
• keyboard
• Graphics tablet
• game controller
• barcode reader
• scanner
• microphone

Touch screen: input or output device

Touch screens are becoming much more prevalent over the past 10 to 15 years as technology has evolved. A touch screen is both an input and output device. Seems odd but it is not. The input part of the touch screen monitor is that it has a touch panel or screen for the input data.

While, the output aspect of the touch screen monitor is that it is a display device. The display of the touch screen monitor is typically a liquid crystal display or an OLED display screen. The input of the touch screen monitor processes your finger, stylus, or a pen, so then the screen mimics and displays your movements onto the screen.

You can use one or more fingers at the same time and the device will be able to understand what you are doing. Another touch screen device are modern smartphones.

Output devices

Other output devices are:

• headphones
• speakers
• laser printers
• fax machines
• projectors

Recap: Is monitor input or output?

In the end, if the computer monitor is not a touch screen monitor and it is a liquid crystal display monitor or a cathode ray tube monitor, then it is an output device.