Peripherals
A peripheral is categorised as any externally connected device to a computer, network, tablet or smartphone. Technological devices are divided into two (2) categories: 1) wired or cabled; and 2) wireless (no cables or wires). So basically a peripheral device such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor, external hard drive, printer or other attached device to the computer, tablet or smartphone can either be connected via (using) a cable of some type with some type of connector, such as USB, or it can be connected wirelessly, such as InfraRed (IR), Bluetooth or radio frequency (RF). So there are a number of ways to connect peripheral devices to a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Interfaces
Interfaces are the facing part of a component to be extended or added on to. Past interfaces include: SCSI (pronounced /scu-zee/), to current day interfaces such as U.S.B. or USB, the acronym for Universal Serial Bus connector interface. These interfaces allow for connecting devices together for either electrical charging purposes or for data connectivity.
USB still remains one of the most frequently and widely-used interface technologies today in 2023, with most technological devices incorporating some type of USB port to connect it to some other device or for some other device to connect to it. Versatility is the main advantage using USB as an interface to perform tasks.
Interfaces can be located on the mainboard inside the computer, on the outside of the computer (externally), on other devices such as modems or routers or on cables with plugs and sockets.
Common interface connections include: connecting your mobile phone to your computer or connecting a battery storage pack device to your mobile phone to charge up your mobile phone.
Cables
Electric cables carry between 230-250 Volts (V) for mains power supply. 230-250V is a commonly used voltage by consumers in the home or business, across the world. Some devices use two (2) electrical pins and some use three (3). The third pin acts as an earth, which some devices require.
Plugs and Sockets
Plugs are divided into two (2) main types: male and female.
So, when requesting a part for your computer, phone, tablet or cable, consider whether its interface connection is male (a plug of some type) or female (a socket of some type).
Connections (hardware)
There are many types of connections in a computer, phone and tablet, although each differ in the type and amount of connections used within. Some use pins with slots and the materials are copper, steel, solder, alloys, silicone and plastic.
SCSI
SCSI, pronounced /scuzzy/, was first introduced in 1981 which proved a popular interface connector to connect certain devices including scanners and printers with computers. It was used by many advertising companies because of its robustness and up to 60 Mbps data transfer rate with 16 devices connected. SCSI phased out and is no longer used in modern computing.
Firewire
Firewire was created to a standard, the same as USB and other types of technologies, which aim to develop the technology and utilise it worldwide. Manufacturers usually adopt new technologies which have been standardised - which pretty much means that it has been created for commercial use.
Firewire never really kicked off as the new popular technology, unfortunately, because it is fast and potentially had scope for improvements.
Microsoft Windows 10 stopped support for Firewire however there may be workarounds to get it working, so I hear online.
Linux has full support for Firewire devices and connections.
USB Types
There are three (3) types of USB devices:
USB Type-A
This is the original USB connection: flat-headed and rectangular in shape.
USB Type-B
USB Type-B are a group of square shaped connectors with rounded edges. These are most commonly used for connecting printers and storage devices to desktop, notebook or server computers.
USB Type-C
USB Type-C are the latest USB connections to be made – small, slimline and rounded like USB Type-B.
USB Devices
Universal Serial Bus or USB, commenced as USB v1.0 in it’s initial release and is now currently set at USB v3.0, released in 2008.
Most devices or peripheral accessories today are USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.
They come in many shapes and sizes. The price has reduced dramatically and the variety has increased.
Wireless
Radio frequency (RF) communications have been used for a long time with devices and systems such as ‘walkie-talkies,’ two-way hand helds, CB (citizens band) radio, radio stations and now WiFi.
RF technologies and communications or ‘comms,’ have come a long way since their inception more than a hundred (100) years ago. RF is used within many industries including the medical and industrial fields. Bluetooth uses RF technology to connect audio and video between externally connected peripheral devices. It is all wireless technology, but each connection type uses different methods to connect using radio frequency.
InfraRed (IR)
InfraRed remote controllers have been used for a long time. Most TV’s are operated wirelessly, or remotely, using a remote control which uses IR to send instructions or commands, to the TV, such as volume up or volume down. IR is simply a red beam of light, which is emitted (sent) with encoded binary information to a receiving device, that allows a remote control to perform certain commands, such as: change the channel up or down, increase or decrease the volume and others, particularly with TV’s (televisions).
Radio Frequency
RF has played a big part in connecting devices together for use in medicine, industries, the office and the home.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology connects devices using UHF RF (Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency) and allows for the transmission of data such as audio and video from a device such as a smartphone to a receiving Bluetooth device. Many devices today are Bluetooth enabled – that is, they have Bluetooth built-in to the device. Some examples include: speakers, printers and notebook computers.
WiFi and Mobile Internet Adapters (dongles)
WiFi has become the popular convenient word during the past 20+ years, with WiFi routers popping up in every shop, business and home. Small local networks can attach a WiFi modem router and get online using cable internet (optic fibre) or wirelessly.
USB Modem Dongle
These are mobile devices used for notebook computers or tablets to dialout and connect to a mobile network to access the internet using prepaid or account services for 3G/4G/5G internet.
Each dongle is assigned an IP address.
WiFi Modem Router
These devices are what connect you wirelessly to the internet from inside your home, office, hotel or business. This device is one of the most popular peripherals on the planet, today.
SD and MicroSD Cards (Secure Digital Cards)
SD Cards
SD cards were first developed for and used with towers and notebooks for transferring files across from another device such as a digital camera, which were very popular during the 1990’s before the smartphone exploded onto the scene for cameras and flashlights. The SD card was soon replaced with the much smaller, MicroSD card. These are popular for use in Android smartphones, cameras and computer cradles with SD slots. SD slots can read MicroSD cards, using a ‘cradle,’ which allows the MicroSD card to ‘fit into’ the SD slot.
Micro SD Cards
Today, MicroSD cards have their own slot interface inside almost, if not all, smartphones. They are small and usually come with a holder, to easily slot into the phone, smoothly. Transfer files, documents, photos, music, videos or anything onto the micro SD card, then remove it (this is done by pushing the MicroSD or SD card cradle in and you will then see it eject out) and insert the card (by pushing it in once) into another device where you can use the copy (Control + C keys) and paste (Control + V keys) commands to paste the contents across, using these keyboard key shortcut commands, or any ‘Edit’ menu. To cut any of the contents, use Control + X keys, and those cut contents are now sitting in the memory clipboard, waiting for you to paste (Control + V) them into, or at, some location, somewhere on your computer, another drive or another computer such as one on a network (the cloud or remote server).
Printers, Scanners and Fax machines
This section is split into two parts:
Home; and
Office
Printers like displays, have reduced immensely in size and today are conveniently sitting on our desks, not much bigger than a letter size sheet of paper. Quality and speed have improved in the name of finer printing and performance to give even home users the ability to print out very good quality images or documents at home. Convenience and productivity combined together, gives any student, business person or enthusiast an advantage in their field of interest.
Today, HP (Hewlitt-Packard), Epson and Cannon printers are highly popular; for home or small business use.
Larger office, government and large scale businesses use companies such as Mitsubishi who tailor-make high volume, quality and speed printing to get employees and workers their copies so that they can continue on with production at the organisation in a minimal amount of time.
Home printers
Home printers have come a long way since the 1980’s from the simple dot-matrix to the modern ink-jet desk printers for your home or office. Some of the manufacturers who are making modern desk printers for your home include: HP, Epson, Canon and brother.
Office printers
Office printers are usually much bigger in size and require a larger operating area, than that of home printers. Office printers: require more floor space typically, have more height, require more servicing and maintenance, cost more and print higher volumes of paper.
Network Printers
Printers with RJ45 LAN network ports were introduced in high volume during the 1990's and evolved into an efficient method of doing high volume, high speed printing.
Scanners
These days, flatbed scanners are combined with printers which also include a fax machine.
Today, printers are actually made as a 3-in-1 (three in one combined) colour printer, flatbed scanner and fax machine. They may be marketed as a printer/scanner/fax machine. Flatbed means that the printer/scanner/fax has a glass flat screen scanning bed, to place your paper document which can be scanned and exported to your computer as a .PDF or .JPEG file, ready to email or printing in another location.
Fax machines
Before computers, fax machines were only available as standalone devices/machines, however as the technology progressed over the years, they were then built into printer scanners to become a 3-in-1 printer/scanner/fax machine. The fax output tray, is where the receiving fax paper comes out of the 3-in-1 device. It may print using traditional paper rolls or A4 standard paper sheets. They still require a standard telephone cable/line and plug to fit into the back of the 3-in1 device, just as the old fax machines did. There are also online efax services available on the internet, for a fee.