Output
Output is the third stage of computing. All the input and processing in the world won't do us any good unless we can get the information back from the computer in a comprehensible and usable form. Output devices today come in many forms: monitors, printers, fax machines, modems, plotters, CD-recordable discs, sound cards, and more.
Input, Processing, and Output
Whenever you sit down at a computer and run an application-whether it is a game, spreadsheet, database, or word processor-you are an active part of the input, processing, and output operation of that computer. The following table provides some examples.
| Application | Function |
|---|---|
| Word processor | Input: Typing your words. Processing: Formatting the text (such as wordwrap and fonts). Output: Storing the text and allowing you to retrieve or print it. |
| Spreadsheet | Input: Typing or providing numbers (such as sales figures). Processing: Applying one or more formulas to the data. Output: Displaying the results of the calculation in numeric or graphical form. |
| Database | Input: Typing information into a data form. Processing: Indexing and storing the data records. Output: Producing reports showing selected data records. |
| Game | Input: Moving your chess piece. Processing: Computer calculating how to respond to your move. Output: Computer making a move. |