Module 2.5- Peripheral Devices & Installation

Question 1

Types of Monitors

Answer 1

1) LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors- most common type, providing a good balance between price and quality
2) LED monitors- more energy efficient ver. offers brighter colours/better contrast
3) OLED monitors- premium monitors with superior colour accuracy and contrast often used in creative industries like video editing and graphic design

• monitors typically connect to your computer via HDMI, common for modern monitors, offering both video and audio in a single cable
• display port- offers higher resolution ad refresh rates, often preferred by gamers and professionals
• VGA, DVI- older standards still found in legacy systems, but with lower resolution and fewer features
• e.g. if using a monitor for gaming, a DisplayPort connection paired with a high refresh rate monitor (120Hz or higher) will provide a smoother experience than the standard 60Hz monitor

Question 2

Cameras

Answer 2

• cameras are now essential peripherals, especially with the rise of remote work and video conferencing
• whether you need basic webcam for meetings or high end camera for content creation, installing and optimising your camera is key to looking best on screen
• most external webcams are plug and play, and use a USB connection, however, to access advanced features like zoom, face tracking, or lighting adjustments, you may need to install manufacturer specific software
• e.g. if creating content and using an external 1080p webcam, installing the webcams companion software will let you control exposure, adjust zoom, and set autofocus options, which significantly improves video quality

Question 3

Types of Webcams

Answer 3

1) built in webcams- found in most laptops, but are usually low in quality, often offering grainy video and poor low light performance

2) external webcams- much higher quality and additional features e.g. autofocus, 1080p, 4K resolution, making them ideal for streaming or professional video calls

Question 4

External Optical Drives

Answer 4

• with many modern laptops and desktops no longer including internal optical drives, an external optical drive can be useful, especially if you need access to DVDs, Blu rays, or CDs
• types of external optical drives:
  1) DVD drives- affordable and can read and write to CDs and DVDs; great for those who still need access to older media or install legacy software
  2) Blu ray drives- can read Blu ray discs in addition to DVDs and CDs; ideal for movie buffs or professionals archiving large amounts of data as Blu ray discs offer significantly more storage than DVDs
• connect via USB and are typically plug and play, but if using a drive for Blu rays, then might need additional software for playback or burning discs
• e.g. if you have an external Blu ray drive, you’ll need to install a Blu ray player software to play Blu ray movie- many systems don’t support Blu ray playback

Question 5

Power Protection

Answer 5

• a UPS is a critical device if you want to protect your system from sudden power outages or surges,as it provides battery backup and surge protection, ensuring that your work isn’t lost and hardware isn’t damaged
• provides power when there’s a disruption in the electrical supply, giving you enough time to save your work and safety shut down the system
• some UPS devices come with surge protection, protecting against spikes and power that can damage your hardware
• e.g. if in the middle of an important project and power goes out, UPS will keep your computer running for a few minutes, so you can save and shut safely

Question 6

Drivers

Answer 6

• no matter how advances your peripherals are, without the right drivers, they won’t function properly- act as the bridge between the OSs and the hardware, ensuring communication between the two
• most modern peripherals are plug and play, meaning the OSs will automatically detect and install necessary drivers when you connect the device- this is important for simple devices e.g. keyboards, mouse, printers
• e.g. when plugging in a standard USB mouse, your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux) will immediately recognise it and install the driver, allowing you to use it without any additional steps
• some devices, especially those with advances features like gaming peripherals or multifunction printers, may require manual driver installation
• you’ll often need to download the driver from the manufacturers website to unlock the devices full functionality