Examples of Computer Peripherals

Hopefully, this list will give you some ideas of the wide variety of devices that can be added to a classroom computer to help with instruction. It is a suggestive list and by no means complete. You may also want to search on the Internet, review technology education-related professional magazines, such as THE Journal (and especially its extensive online archives and look through computer product catalogs for more tips. While some links are provided, you are encouraged to us your favorite online search engine, such as Google to do a search for more information on any of the types of peripherals listed below.

CD-ROM; DVD players*. (You know what these do.)

CD/DVD/CD Writers* Available everywhere, these create CD or DVD digital recordings. Check out this Terapin site for CD video recorders. http://store.yahoo.com/amagic/terapin.html

Digital Video projectors

      LCD projection tablets that work in conjunction with classroom overhead projectors, LCD computer screen projectors. What to look for.

External Hard Drives*:

      These are typically used to dock with computers to provide access to files or programs not on the host computer, or to provide added local file storage. Various configurations.

External Backup Drives*:

      Various configurations*. These devices are typically used for very limited storage in place of floppy drives. Sony Superdrives; Iomega Jaz and Zip drives.

Game Controllers (used with certain science & math lab devices).

Graphics Tablets:

      These are used for computer-aided design and for artistic design work. They usually have a board and a stylus. Check out websites for Calcomp, Genius and Wacom.

Graphics/TV:

      Various external devices are available that can connect to your workstation or laptop that provide an interface for cameras, camcorders, and VCRs. Some provide extra features, such as video editing, captioning, chromatic key displays (such as for inserting backgrounds behind TV announcers).

Devices for the disabled.

      Various devices for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. Examples: motion detection devices and typing aids for paraplegics, special monitors and/or Braille printers for the blind. For some tips, try this site for starters: http://www.makoa.org/computers.htm

Modems: phone, DSL.

Monitors:

Desktop analog displays, LCD digital displays, wide-screen digital displays, and color plasma displays that hang on the wall. 

Mice and Keyboards

Music devices:

Piano digital keyboards, synthesizers, MIDI devices.

Networking:

      Base stations for wireless local area networking. Network cards for printers.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs):

      „Palm Pilots /and other brands that can used with a workstation.

Plotters:

      Devices used to print engineering and technical drawings. Some are also used as printers for large posters.

Power Protection:

 Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), electric power strips, surge and voltage devices.

Printers:

Ink cartridge printers, Laser printers, Color printers; also, dot matrix printers. 

Robotic devices:

      Classroom kits used to teach students about robots and their programming.

Science class peripherals:

Various devices. For example, classroom kits that allow for monitoring the weather; devices that periodically adjust the aim of telescopes to watch planets or stars; and digital devices with gooseneck bases that can be used in place of microscopes to display bacteria and other media on slides, or used as video conferencing cameras.

Virtual Reality headsets*:

      Personal video display devices in the form of headgear intended to give the wearer a virtual reality experience. Now used experimentally in mostly science areas.

* How the device connects to the computer depends upon the kind of connection standard used, typically, USB; Firewire (also known as IEEE 1394 devices); or SCSI.