An output device presents data from a computer to the user. Monitors show images. Printers make paper copies. Speakers play sound. Projectors cast onto walls. These devices convert digital signals into forms humans can perceive: light, sound, motion, or physical marks.

Output devices come in many forms. Some are visual, like monitors and projectors. Some are auditory, like speakers and headphones. Some are physical, like 3D printers and haptic feedback motors. Some are combinations, like touchscreens that both display and accept input.

Common output devices

• Monitor: visual display
• Printer: paper output
• Speaker: audio output
• Projector: large-screen display
• 3D printer: physical object output
• Haptic device: touch feedback

Output devices shape experience. A high-resolution monitor makes work easier. A loudspeaker fills a room with sound. A 3D printer turns a digital model into a physical object. The output is what the user sees, hears, or holds. It is the payoff of the computation.