Output devices in a computer system make it possible for a user to do what with data and information?

Introduction / Context:
Computers interact with users through input and output devices. Input devices bring data into the computer, while output devices present processed data back to the user in usable form. Understanding what output devices actually do helps clarify the difference between input, processing, storage, and output in the basic information processing cycle. This question asks what output devices allow a user to do with data and information.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The type of device in focus is an output device.
• Common output devices include monitors, printers, and speakers.
• The options include viewing and printing data, scanning data, inputting data, and sending data.
• We assume standard roles: monitors display, printers print, and so on.

Concept / Approach:
Output devices present data from the computer to the user. A monitor displays visual output on the screen, and a printer produces hard copies of documents. Speakers play audio output. These all allow the user to view, hear, or print the results of processing. Scanning is an input operation performed by scanners and similar devices. Inputting data is the role of devices like keyboards and mice. Sending data can involve network adapters or communication channels, which are not typically called output devices in basic classifications. Therefore, the most accurate description of what output devices make possible is to view and print data.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List typical output devices. Monitors, printers, and speakers are standard examples. Step 2: Ask what these devices enable the user to do. Monitors let users view information; printers let users print documents; speakers let users hear sounds. Step 3: Compare this with the options. Option A mentions viewing and printing data, which matches the behaviour of monitors and printers. Step 4: Examine scanning and inputting data. Scanning data is carried out by scanners, which are input devices; inputting data is the role of keyboard and mouse. Step 5: Consider sending data. Sending data over a network is usually associated with communication devices rather than with output devices in basic classification. Step 6: Choose option A as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Basic computer fundamentals books state that output devices convert digital information into a form that humans can read, see, or hear. They give examples such as monitors, printers, and speakers and emphasize actions like viewing results or printing reports. Input devices are discussed separately and include keyboards, mice, scanners, and microphones. Network devices are placed in a communications category. This separation confirms that output devices are specifically about presenting processed information, and that the key phrase “view and print data” correctly describes what they make possible.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Scan a data): Scanning is performed by scanners, which are input devices that send data into the computer. Option C (Input a data): Inputting data is done using keyboards, mice, and other input devices, not output devices. Option D (Sending a data): Sending data across a network is typically handled by communication devices and network interfaces rather than by standard output devices.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse scanning with printing because both may involve paper. It is important to remember that scanning moves information from paper into the computer, while printing moves information from the computer to paper. Another confusion arises from thinking that any movement of data out of the computer, including network transmission, is output, but exam terminology distinguishes output devices (for human use) from communication hardware. Focus on devices that present information directly to the user, like monitors and printers, to correctly identify the role of output devices.

Final Answer:
Output devices make it possible for users to view and print data produced by the computer.