Input and output — Computing, 4–6 years
A computer receives something, does a little work, and gives something back. Children can spot this flow in buttons, cameras, tablets and toys.
What goes in and out
A computer needs something to receive, such as a button press, a sound or a picture. It works on that information and then gives a result, such as a number, a light or a sound. What goes in is input; what comes out is output.
Why computers need both
A machine cannot guess what we want, and we cannot see its work unless it shows us something. People made inputs so we could tell machines what to do, and outputs so machines could answer. This is the bridge between a person and a device.
A calculator answer
First, press 2: that key press is input. Next, press +, then 3, and finally =; the calculator works on the information. Last, 5 appears on the screen, so 5 is the output. The same flow happens with many other devices.
The common mix-up
It is easy to think that input means typing and output means a screen. That makes sense because keyboards and screens are familiar examples. But a microphone, camera or touch sensor can be input, while a buzzer, motor or printed page can be output too.
All around us
At a pedestrian crossing, pressing the button is input. The controller processes it, then the light or beeping sound is output. In a voice assistant, your words are input and its spoken reply is output. Seeing both parts helps explain how everyday smart devices respond.
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