Installing Peripheral Devices

 

Today, many peripheral devices connect to an external USB (universal serial bus) port and Windows automatically loads their service drivers, making installation as simple as plugging in a table lamp. USB is currently the most popular technology for connecting peripherals.

USB ports are conveniently located on the front of the system unit for easy access. When you install a peripheral device, you are creating a connection for data to flow between the device and the computer. Within a computer, data travels from one component to another over circuits called a data bus. One part of the data bus runs between RAM and the microprocessor. Other parts of the data bus connect RAM to various storage and peripheral devices. The segment of the data bus that extends between RAM and peripheral devices is called the expansion bus. As data moves along the expansion bus, it can travel through expansion slots, cards, ports, and cables. An expansion slot is along, narrow socket on the system board into which you can plug an expansion card. An expansion card is a small circuit board that gives a computer the capability to control a storage device, an input device, or an output device. Expansion cards are also called “expansion boards”, “controller cards”, or “adapters”. Expansion cards are built for only one type of slot. An expansion port is any connector that passes data in and out of a computer or peripheral device. Built in ports supplied with a computer usually include a mouse port, keyboard port, serial port, and USB ports. Most notebook computers are equipped with several USB ports.

Some devices require software, called a device driver, to set up communication between your computer and the device. The directions supplied with your peripheral device include instructions on how to install the device driver. Typically, you use the device driver disk or CD one time to get everything set up, and then you can put the disk away in a safe place. Installing a peripheral device you should remember that the cable you use must match the peripheral device and a port on the computer. If the right type of port is not available, you might have to add an expansion card. Once the connection is made, PnP should recognize the new device. If not, you will probably have to install driver software.

 

Comprehension check. Match the beginnings of the sentences in the first column with the endings in the second.

 

A	B
1. In addition to the basic typing keypad, computer keyboards include a collection of function keys	a) it can travel through expansion slots, cards, ports, and cables.
2. A pointing device allows you	b) to use the mouse on a wide variety of surfaces without a mouse pad.
3. A recurring cost of using a printer is the ink-jet or laser cartridge	c) designed for computer-specific tasks.
4. An optical mouse provides more precise tracking, less maintenance, and more flexibility	d) to manipulate an on-screen pointer and other screen-based graphical controls.
5. As data moves along the expansion bus,	e) that offers an inexpensive and dependable way of output.
6. A CRT (cathode ray tube) display is a device	f) that must be replaced every few thousand pages of output.

Vocabulary practice

1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences with the necessary word(s); all the letters of the word(s) are given on the right.

1. Some … are designed to avoid wrist and injures caused by hours of keyboarding.	OAYEDSBKR
2. Certain input devices record and … the sound of the human voice into … signals.	TRNVOEC TIIGDLA
3. Some input systems … a computer to understand a voice it has never heard.	WOLLA
4. The first generation of digital cameras could create photos with … of 650 x 480 pixels.	ULOOESRNTI
5. An optical mouse requires less …; you can … it on any kind of surface.	EANEACINNTM EANALMPIUT
6. Even a steady image on a monitor is constantly regenerated, or …, from top to bottom.	DEEFHRRES

 

2. Fill in the missing words choosing from the variants given.

 

a) viewing angle b) pixel c) resolution d) surface

e) allows f) pitches g) display

 

1. A keyboard … the user to key in programs and data and to control the computer system.

2. An optical mouse uses an onboard chip to track a light beam as it bounces off a …, such as a desk, clipboard, or mouse pad.

3. Some … screens, can be classified as both input and output devices.

4. Greater … densities and smaller dot … yield sharper images of higher resolution.

5. A wide … indicates that you can view the screen from various positions without compromising image quality.

6. Printer … is measured by the number of dots printed per linear inch.

3. Match the beginnings and the endings of the statements given and put the sentences you get into the correct order.

1. Once the connection is made,	a) you’ll probably have to install driver software.
2. You have to use the expansion bus	b) must match the peripheral device and a port on the computer.
3. If you want to install a peripheral device	c) to recognize just any peripheral device automatically.
4. If it does not,	d) PnP will recognize the new device.
5. If the right type of port is not available,	e) you need PnP.
6. PnP is a feature that allows the computer	f) you might have to add an expansion card.
7. The cable you use	g) to make a connection between the system board and a peripheral device.

4. Fill in the gaps in the text with appropriate words.

 

Most computer systems include a keyboard and some type of ___ device for basic data input. A mouse is standard equipment with most desktop computer systems. For output, most computers include a display device. A ___ produces an image by spraying electrons toward the screen. ___ technology produces an image by manipulating light within a layer of liquid crystal cells. ___ screen technology creates an on-screen image by illuminating miniature fluorescent lights arrayed in a panel-like screen. Image quality for a display device is a factor of screen size, ___ ___, ___ of viewing angle, resolution, refresh rate, and color ___.

Speaking. Discuss the following questions.

1. What devices are used to get data into a computer?

2. What does a pointing device do?

3. What options are for output devices?

4. Which display technology produces the best image?

5. What printer technologies are most popular with personal computer users?

6. What are the operating characteristics of a printer?

7. How does a computer move data to and from peripheral devices?

8. What is an expansion slot? What is an expansion card used for?

9. What is an expansion port? What are other names for it?

10. Why do some peripheral devices include a disk or CD?

 

Critical Thinking. Read the article and express you opinion on the problem.