External Hardware Devices

Question 1

What is a barcode?

Answer 1

• A set of vertical lines of different thickness that represent a number

Question 2

What do the lines on Barcodes represent?

Answer 2

• Information about the manufacturer

- The product code

Question 3

What are the 4 types of Barcode readers and what do they do?

Answer 3

• pen-type readers
• laser scanners
• CCD (charged couple device) readers
• Camera-based readers
• They are used to input data from barcodes

Question 4

Where are pictures taken on a digital camera stored?

Answer 4

On a memory card

Question 5

How are pictures transferred to a computer?

Answer 5

-By plugging the memory card into a computer card reader.

Question 6

How do digital cameras work

Answer 6

1) When a picture is taken the image strikes the camera sensor
2) The sensor records the amount of light received and converts it into a digital value/binary
3) The image sensor records in RGB format so that all the colours can be created within the image
4) The picture is then stored as an image file on the memory card
5) The image file contains a data for each pixel in the image

Question 7

What can image editing software be used to modify in a picture taken by a digital camera that has been and imported onto a computer?

Answer 7

• Red eye removal
• Cropping the image
• Modifying the brightness

Question 8

What is the main advantage of laser printers over other types of printers?

Answer 8

They have a fast print speed.

They have a high quality dry page output.

Question 9

What does RFID stand for?

Answer 9

Radio Frequency Identification tags

Question 10

What are RFID tags used for?

Answer 10

• Can identify and track products

- Can be used for security purposes in stores to prevent theft as it can set off an alarm

Question 11

How does the RFID reader operate?

Answer 11

• The RFID reader transmits a radio signal
• The RFID tags antenna receives it and returns a programmed information code to the reader.
• The code is translated into digital data which is interpreted by the computer to identify the information received.

Question 12

Advantages of using RFID over barcodes

Answer 12

The tags don’t require a power source as the signal from the reader energises the passive tag and causes it to transmit its ID code

Question 13

How do laser printers work?

Answer 13

• The print drum is coated in positive static charge
• The printer generates the bitmap image of the page
• Laser beams are directed at print drum via a rotating mirror
• The laser reverses electric charge on drum to produce dark areas
• Toner is given positive charge
• Charged drum picks up toner from drum mechanisms
• The toner is transferred from drum to paper
• The toner is fused into the paper using heat and pressure.

Question 14

What are the two types of barcodes

Answer 14

• Line barcodes

- QR codes

Question 15

How do pen readers read a barcode?

Answer 15

• The tip of the pen is dragged across the barcode
• The photodiode measures the intensity of the light reflected back
• It creates a voltage waveform which is used to measure the widths of the bars/spaces
• This can be translated into 1’s and 0’s, which can be identified as product codes

Question 16

What is an advantage of using pen readers over other types of barcode readers?

Answer 16

-They are the most durable due to their simple design

Question 17

What is a disadvantage of using pen readers over other types of barcode readers?

Answer 17

-They have a limited use as they must come in contact with the barcode to work

Question 18

How do laser scanner read a barcode?

Answer 18

• A laser beam reflects off a mirror allowing the barcode to be read in different positions
• The photodiode measures the intensity of the light reflected back from the laser beam
• It creates a voltage waveform which represents the widths of the bars/spaces
• This can be translated into 1’s and 0’s, which can identify product codes

Question 19

What is an advantage of using laser scanners over other types of barcode readers?

Answer 19

• They are reliable
• The barcode can be read from different positions
• They don’t have to come into direct contact with the barcode to work

Question 20

How do charged couple devices read a barcode?

Answer 20

• They use an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row
• Each sensor measures the intensity of the light immediately in front of it
• This generates an identical voltage pattern to the barcode by sequentially measures the voltages across each sensor

Question 21

How do camera based readers read a barcode?

Answer 21

-uses a camera and image processing techniques to decode a 1d or 2d barcode

Question 22

What is an advantage of using camera based readers over other types of barcode readers?

Answer 22

• they can read barcodes that have been damaged or poorly printed
• can read barcodes that are a variety of distances away from the scanner

Question 23

What’s the difference between passive and active tags?

Answer 23

• Active tags are bigger as they include a power supply
• Active tags are used to track things further away
• Passive tags are cheaper to produce