Page 8 - Digital Age - 3

Similarly, a computer follows the three steps as described:

Input – It accepts data and instructions from the user.
Process – It carries out calculations on the data according to the given instructions.

Output – It returns the result of the process to the user.
The above three steps together form the IPO cycle.

Input Process Output

THE IPO CYCLE

The computer takes input, processes it, and provides Input
output. The output of one operation can be the input

for the next operation. Thus, a series of input, process,
and output operations is called the IPO cycle. Output Process

Try This Logical Thinking

Given below are certain steps for doing different tasks. Identify the steps as Input, Process
or Output.

1. Inserting a pencil in a sharpener to sharpen it.
2. Ice cubes taken out from the ice tray.
3. Boiling the mixture of tea leaves, milk, sugar and water on a gas stove.
4. Putting dirty clothes in a washing machine.

Let us understand the concept of Input, Process, and Output in detail.

Input

The data and instructions that are given to a computer to do a task are called Input.
Data can be in the form of text, numbers, pictures, audio, or video. Instructions are
commands which tell the computer what to do with the given data.

Input is given to the computer using different devices, such as keyboard, mouse,
scanner, webcam, etc. These devices are called Input Devices.

Keyboard Mouse Webcam

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