Computer PeripheralsComputer PeripheralsComputer peripherals are any electronic devices that can be hooked up to a computer other than the standard input-output devices (monitor, keyboard, mouse). Peripheral devices include speakers, microphones, printers, scanners, digital cameras, plotters, and modems. Peripherals often require special software packages called "drivers". These drivers are usually included with the peripheral at purchase time. Drivers are programs that tell the computer important information about the device. When the computer detects a new peripheral, it will ask you to provide it with the driver information.
Below are some examples of peripherals: including a printer, a scanner to copy images into computer readable formats, a digital camera, and modems for connecting to the internet.
PRINTER for printing out paper copies of documents.
SCANNER for copying paper documents and images into a computer format for web posting and editing.
DIGITAL CAMERAS which take digital pictures that can be copied to the computer, formatted and edited. The images can be e-mailed, used on the internet or printed just like regular camera.
MODEMS and NETWORKS are devices that allow computers to talk to one another. Modems are used to allow users to connect to other computers using telephone lines, cables or wireless connections. The pictures below are peripherals are used to connect to the internet and other computers.
JOYSTICK and GAMING devices are connected to the computer to allow many different ways for users to control the movements and activities of the cursor for games.
HEADSET devices used to input VOICE commands and to talk to other users over the internet. Both of these technologies have been available for some time, but are still being developed. Some users talk to the computer instead of typing. You can use the computer and the internet to telephone people, but the connections are not as clear as a regular phone and there are some delays in the sounds and words as they are being spoken.
VIEWCAM devices are cameras that are connected to your computer and provide pictures of you over the internet. Some of them can be used as digital cameras.
