Input and output devices

Summary

An input device allows us to send data to a computer, like typing on a keyboard or touching a screen. Output devices communicate information to us, such as displaying messages or playing sound. The BBC micro:bit includes buttons, sensors, an LED display, and can send/receive data via radio. The latest version adds a microphone, touch sensor, and built-in speaker, allowing users to interact and create even more. This video explores how input and output devices work together, with examples like playing music on a phone and using a micro:bit's various features.

Takeaways

• ⌨️ An input device allows us to send data to a computer, like typing on a keyboard or touching a screen.
• 🔊 An output device enables a computer to communicate information to us, such as displaying on a screen or playing sound through speakers.
• 🎶 When you press play on your phone to listen to music, you're using an input device, and the sound comes out through an output device, like headphones.
• 📱 The BBC micro:bit has built-in input devices like buttons and sensors for light, temperature, acceleration, and magnetism.
• 💡 The main output device of the micro:bit is its LED display.
• 📡 The micro:bit can both send and receive information via radio, acting as both an input and output device.
• 🔌 You can add external input and output devices to the micro:bit using its pins, such as attaching headphones or speakers.
• 🎤 The latest version of the micro:bit includes new inputs like a microphone for sound sensing and a touch sensor on the gold logo.
• 🔈 There’s also a new built-in speaker in the updated micro:bit, allowing instant playback of sounds you create.
• 🤖 With these enhanced features, you can interact and create more complex programs using the micro:bit.

Q & A

What is an input device?

An input device is a piece of hardware that allows us to send data to a computer, such as a keyboard or a touchscreen.

Can you give examples of output devices?

Examples of output devices include a screen that displays a message, speakers or headphones that play sound, and a printer that prints documents.

How does pressing 'play' on a phone screen involve both input and output devices?

When you press 'play' on the touchscreen (input device), it sends a command to the phone, which then plays music through the headphones or speakers (output devices).

What input and output devices are built into the BBC micro:bit?

The BBC micro:bit has buttons, sensors for light, temperature, acceleration, and magnetism as input devices. The main output device is the LED display.

How does the BBC micro:bit use radio communication?

The BBC micro:bit can send and receive information via radio, making it both an input and an output device.

What can you add to the BBC micro:bit using its pins?

You can add additional input and output devices to the BBC micro:bit using its pins, such as attaching headphones or a speaker as an output device.

What new inputs are available in the latest version of the BBC micro:bit?

The latest version of the BBC micro:bit includes a microphone for sound sensing and a touch sensor on the gold micro:bit logo.

What is the additional output feature in the latest version of the BBC micro:bit?

The latest version of the BBC micro:bit has a built-in speaker that allows you to instantly play the sounds you create.

How does the micro:bit enhance interaction and creativity?

With built-in sensors, a microphone, a touch sensor, and the ability to add external devices, the micro:bit enables more interaction and creativity by allowing users to program and react to various inputs.

What is an example of how the micro:bit functions as both an input and an output device?

The micro:bit’s radio feature lets it send and receive data, meaning it acts as both an input and output device, like when sending signals between multiple micro:bits.

Outlines

00:00

🎹 Input Devices: Sending Data to Computers

An input device is any hardware that allows users to send data to a computer. Examples include typing on a keyboard or touching a screen to initiate actions. Input devices enable us to interact with computers by sending commands for processing.

📢 Output Devices: Communicating Information from Computers

Output devices are hardware components that allow computers to communicate information back to users. Examples include displaying messages on a screen, playing sound through speakers or headphones, and printing documents. These devices make the results of computer processes accessible to humans.

🎶 Interactions Between Input and Output Devices

When a user gives a command via an input device, like pressing 'play' on a touchscreen, an output device, such as headphones, will act to play the music. Input and output devices work in tandem, with one sending data and the other providing the result.

🔌 Micro:bit's Built-In Input and Output Devices

The BBC micro:bit comes equipped with several built-in input devices, such as buttons and sensors for light, temperature, acceleration, and magnetism. The main output device is its LED display. These components allow the micro:bit to receive and display data.

📡 Micro:bit as a Versatile Communication Tool

In addition to built-in sensors and display, the micro:bit can send and receive information via radio, functioning as both an input and output device. It allows users to connect external input and output devices, such as headphones or speakers, through its pins for expanded functionality.

🎤 New Input Features in the Latest Micro:bit

The latest version of the micro:bit introduces two new input features: a microphone for sound sensing and a touch sensor on the gold logo, enabling new forms of interaction. These additional inputs allow for more advanced programming possibilities.

🔊 Enhanced Output Capabilities: Built-in Speaker

A built-in speaker is also included in the new micro:bit version, enabling users to play sounds instantly without needing external speakers. This feature enhances the creative potential for interactive projects involving sound.

Keywords

💡Input Device

An input device is hardware that allows us to send data to a computer. In the video, examples include typing on a keyboard or touching a screen to make something happen. The micro:bit's buttons and sensors also serve as input devices, allowing users to interact with the computer system.

💡Output Device

An output device is hardware that enables a computer to communicate information to users. Examples from the video include displaying messages on a screen, playing sound via headphones, or printing a document. The micro:bit’s LED display and built-in speaker serve as output devices, allowing users to receive visual and auditory feedback.

💡BBC Micro:bit

The BBC micro:bit is a small, programmable microcontroller with built-in input and output devices. It allows users to create interactive projects. The video discusses its buttons, sensors (input devices), and LED display and built-in speaker (output devices), showcasing its versatility in handling data.

💡Sensors

Sensors are input devices that detect changes in the environment, such as light, temperature, acceleration, and magnetism. The micro:bit has built-in sensors, enabling it to collect data from the surrounding environment and respond to it, which is highlighted as one of the micro:bit's interactive features.

💡LED Display

An LED display is an output device that shows visual information. On the micro:bit, the LED display can output text or images to communicate information to the user. This display is an essential feature for interacting with the micro:bit’s programmed functions.

💡Microphone

A microphone is an input device that senses sound. In the video, the latest version of the micro:bit is mentioned as having a built-in microphone, allowing the micro:bit to detect and respond to audio input, expanding its interactive capabilities.

💡Touch Sensor

A touch sensor is an input device that detects physical touch. The newer micro:bit model has a touch sensor on its gold logo, allowing users to program the device to react when touched, adding a more tactile form of interaction with the micro:bit.

💡Speaker

A speaker is an output device that produces sound. The latest version of the micro:bit includes a built-in speaker, allowing it to play sounds directly. This enables users to create audio outputs for their projects, adding an auditory element to interactions with the micro:bit.

💡Radio Communication

Radio communication allows devices to send and receive data wirelessly. The micro:bit is capable of using radio communication, functioning as both an input and output device. This feature enables the micro:bit to interact with other devices, expanding the scope of projects that can be created.

💡Pins

Pins are connection points on the micro:bit that allow users to attach external input and output devices, such as headphones or additional sensors. This expands the range of devices that can be integrated with the micro:bit, making it a flexible tool for building larger, more complex systems.

Highlights

An input device allows us to send data to a computer, like typing on a keyboard or touching a screen.

An output device allows a computer to communicate information to us, like displaying messages on a screen or playing sound through speakers.

Using a touchscreen to play music involves an input device (the touchscreen) and an output device (the headphones).

The BBC micro:bit has built-in input devices, such as buttons and sensors for light, temperature, acceleration, and magnetism.

The main output device on the BBC micro:bit is the LED display.

The BBC micro:bit can send and receive information by radio, making it both an input and output device.

External input and output devices can be added to the BBC micro:bit using the pins, like attaching headphones or speakers.

The latest version of the BBC micro:bit includes two extra inputs: a microphone for sound sensing and a touch sensor on the gold micro:bit logo.

The new micro:bit version also includes an extra output: a built-in speaker for instant sound playback.

You can program the micro:bit to react to touch input using the touch sensor.

The micro:bit’s microphone can detect sound levels, allowing for more interactive projects.

The built-in speaker enables users to play sounds directly without additional hardware.

Users can create more complex interactions with the new input and output devices on the latest micro:bit version.

The BBC micro:bit is highly versatile, enabling input and output through a variety of built-in and external devices.

The micro:bit’s radio feature makes it capable of wireless communication, enhancing its interactive capabilities.

Transcripts

An input device is any piece of hardware that allows us to send data to a computer.

So if you type a message on a keyboard or touch a screen to make

something happen you're using an input device. An output device on the other

hand is any piece of hardware that allows a computer to communicate

information to us. For example displaying a message on a screen, playing sound via

a speaker or headphones or printing a document. So if you want to play music on

your phone and press play on the touchscreen, you're using an input device

to tell your phone to play the music. The phone will then play the music and the

sound will come through an output device: your headphones. The BBC micro:bit has

several built-in input and output devices. The input devices are the

buttons and the sensors for light, temperature, acceleration and magnetism.

The main output device is the LED display. Your micro:bit can also send

and receive information by radio, so it's both an input and an output device.

You can also add input and output devices using the pins on the micro:bit

for example you can attach headphones or a speaker as an output device.

If you have the latest version of the micro:bit, there are two extra inputs.

A microphone, for sound sensing

and a touch sensor on the gold micro:bit logo

so you can program your micro:bit to react when you touch it.

There is also an extra output.

A built-in speaker to let you play the sounds you create instantly.

So, you can interact and create even more with your micro:bit.