← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Devices that are both input and output

A screen that is both an input device, because it senses your tap or swipe, and an output device, because it shows the picture.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Inside Digital Systems — Module 13

Understanding Devices that are both input and output in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Pressing buttons sends input to the game, and vibrate() makes the controller buzz, which is output you can feel. The tap is the input, and show(picture) is the output on the same screen. The microphone sends your voice in. The speakers play sound out, so they are output.

Common mistakes: A touchscreen senses taps and swipes, so that is its input. The picture it shows is the output. Line 2 should be: input ← tap and swipe. A keyboard is an input device only. The touchscreen is the device that is both input and output. Line 1 should be: IF device is touchscreen THEN.

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Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 5–26) and word search (Modules 5–43).

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Learning
Duo
A touchscreen on a tablet is...
Both an input device and an output deviceOnly an output device
Matches
touchscreen = input device only
↓
A touchscreen is not only an input device. It also shows the picture, so it is an output device too.
Applying
Meanings
Term
touchscreen
Meaning
A screen that is both an input device, because it senses your tap or swipe, and an output device, because it shows the picture.
Practice
touchscreen input: tap and swipe
Testing
Gaps
tap or swipe =
Check Answer
Spots
1device ← touchscreen
2input ← the picture shown

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Quick Questions

1. A touchscreen on a tablet is...
A. Only an output device
B. Both an input device and an output device ✓
A touchscreen senses your tap or swipe (input) and also shows the picture (output).
2. Which part of a touchscreen is the INPUT job?
A. Sensing your tap or swipe ✓
B. Showing the game picture
Input means information going into the device. Your tap or swipe goes in. Showing the picture is the output job.
3. Which part of a touchscreen is the OUTPUT job?
A. Feeling your finger swipe
B. Showing the picture you see ✓
Output means information coming out of the device. The picture on the screen comes out. Feeling a swipe is the input job.
4. You swipe to scroll through photos on a phone. Which is the input?
A. Your swipe on the screen ✓
B. The photos that appear
Your swipe goes in as input. The photos appearing on the screen are the output.
5. A game controller that vibrates when your character gets hit is...
A. Both input and output ✓
B. Input only
Pressing buttons is input. The buzzing you feel is output, so the controller does both jobs.

Match the Pairs

touchscreen → A screen that senses your tap or swipe (input) and also shows the picture (output)
headset → A device with a microphone (input) and speakers (output) in one
A game controller that vibrates is an input device when you press buttons and an output device when it buzzes → controller.vibrate()
A touchscreen takes a tap or swipe in as input, then shows a picture out as output → tap(button) -> show(picture)
touchscreen = input device only → A touchscreen is not only an input device. It also shows the picture, so it is an output device too.
headset = output device only (speakers) → A headset also has a microphone, which is input, so it is both input and output, not output only.

Key Term

touchscreen
A screen that is both an input device, because it senses your tap or swipe, and an output device, because it shows the picture.

Fill in the Blanks

1. tap or swipe = input
Hint: Type the word for information going into a device when you touch the screen.
2. touchscreen shows picture = output
Hint: Type the word for information coming out of a device to you.
3. touchscreen = input AND output
Hint: Type the word that shows a touchscreen does both jobs at once.
4. button press = input controller vibrates = output
Hint: Type the action a game controller does to buzz in your hands.
5. microphone = input speakers = output
Hint: Type the headset part that plays sound out to your ears.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A device ← touchscreen
B input ← the picture shown
C output ← picture
Line B — A touchscreen senses taps and swipes, so that is its input. The picture it shows is the output. Line 2 should be: input ← tap and swipe.
Question 2
A IF device is keyboard THEN
B it is input and output
C END IF
Line A — A keyboard is an input device only. The touchscreen is the device that is both input and output. Line 1 should be: IF device is touchscreen THEN.
Question 3
A controller ← input only
B input ← button press
C output ← vibration
Line A — A game controller that vibrates is also an output device, so it is both input and output. Line 1 should be: controller ← input and output.
Question 4
A headset ← device
B input ← microphone
C output ← speakers
D result ← output only
Line D — The microphone is input and the speakers are output, so a headset is both. Line 4 should be: result ← input and output.
Question 5
A WHEN player taps the screen
B microphone senses the tap
C game updates the picture
D screen shows new picture
Line B — The touchscreen senses a tap, not a microphone. Line 2 should be: screen senses the tap.

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