What are Dual Devices or Both Input/ Output Devices

The devices that can be used to perform both functions -input and output- are called Dual Devices. These devices are also called Dual Purpose Devices or Both Input/Output Devices. With the help of a dual purpose device, we can enter data into computer as well as we can output data from the computer to outside world.  For example, Dual devices include:  Touch Screen Monitor, Modem, Network Interface Card, Sound card, Hard disk drive, Floppy disk Drive, Magnetic Tape Drive CD-Writer and DVD-Writer etc. These are also called Input/output devices, because they perform both functions.

• Touch Screen Monitor

Dual Devices or Both Input / Output Devices – Touch screens

Touch Screen Monitor is an input/output device. It uses a special touch sensitive screen. The User can enter data by touching icons or menus on the screen. As soon as the user selects a command from menu, output is displayed on screen. Commonly touch screen monitors use sensors to detect touch of finger.

•      Headset

A headset may be considered as both Input / Output device, because it has a microphone for voice input and small speaker phones for  sound output.

Example of Both Input / Output Devices – headsets

Headsets are used for video conferences and video calls through SKYPE and other such free software to make video calls.

• Modem

Internal modem

External modem

Modem stands for Modulator / Demodulator. Modem is a communication device.  It makes possible receiving data from internet into our computer (input) and sending data from our computer to another computer on internet(output).  It performs two functions: Modulation (converting digital signal into analog signal) and Demodulation(converting analog signal to digital signal). It makes possible receiving data from internet into our computer (input) and sending data from our computer to another computer on internet(output). Modem sends and receives data from one computer to another through telephone lines. It links your personal computer to the Internet through your ISP (Internet Service Provider). A telephone line supports only analog signals, whereas computer accepts only digital signals. So when a computer wants to send data to another computer, digital data is converted into analog data before placing on telephone line. The process of converting digital signal into analog signal is called Modulation. Similarly, on the receiving computer, modem converts analog data (from telephone line) into digital data, before it is entered into receiving computer. The process of converting analog signal into digital signal is called Demodulation.

• NIC – Network Interface Card

NIC or LAN card – NIC is Example of Dual devices

NIC stands for Network Interface Card. It is used to link network computers for transmitting data. With the help of NIC our computer can receive  data, instructions and information from another computer (input). NIC will also be helpful to send data from our computer to another computer on the network (output). NIC is also called a LAN card, local area network card or LAN adapter.

• Sound Card

Sound card or audio card

A sound card is a computer component that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer. A speaker produces audio output with the help of sound card. In addition we use microphone to input our voice into computer with the help of sound card. 

•     Hard disk Drive

Hard disk drive is an input/output device. It has read/write heads to read data from hard disk(input) and to write data to hard disk(output).

• Floppy disk Drive

Floppy disk drive is an input/output device. It has read/write heads to read data from floppy disk(input) and to write data to floppy disk(output).   

• Magnetic Tape Drive

Magnetic Tape drive is an input/output device. It has read/write heads to read data from magnetic tape(input) and to write data to magnetic tape(output).

• CD-Writer / CD-Recorder

CD-Writer is an input/output device. It is used to store data on CD. It is used to read data from CD(input) and to write data to CD(output).

• DVD-Writer / DVD-Recorder

DVD-Writer is an input/output device. It is used to store data on DVD. It is used to read data from DVD(input) and to write data to DVD(output).