The first fully functional computer, the Harvard Mark I, was developed by American physicist Howard Aiken in collaboration with IBM between 1939 and 1945. Interestingly, its size was 50 feet, and it weighed over 5 tons. In comparison, the computers, laptops, smartphones, and other smart gadgets we have today are tremendously compact and a million times more efficient.
Some of the components in modern computers got smaller with time, and some components could just be added as and when needed to improve comfort and flexibility with attachable internal and external devices. These devices are known as computer peripherals.
Why are Computer Peripherals Becoming Essential to Modern PCs and Laptops?
Today, the majority of the world relies on computers to smoothly run day-to-day tasks. From office work to entertainment, from accessing content to creating content, from performing innumerable calculations to generating new technological breakthroughs, and plenty more, all are carried out with dependence on computers.
Though computers have become so efficient, to gain the maximum benefit from them, the use of internally and externally attachable devices is also a must. These connectable input and output devices are identified as computer peripherals.
However, they are not the core components of the computer system. Some examples of computer peripherals include a keyboard, mouse, printers, speakers, external hard drives (HD), and scanners, among others. These devices not only enhance the existing computer system but also enable saving lots of money, as one does not have to buy a whole new system to add new functionalities to their systems.
By buying computer peripherals, most of the requirements, such as memory expansion, sound enhancement, the comfort of keyboard and mouse input, taking prints and scanning, and other necessities, could be fulfilled. Due to the flexibility provided by the computer peripherals, the size of the main computer system is getting smaller with every new edition launch.
These devices can now be connected to computers or laptops with the help of wireless connectivity solutions such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Computer peripherals including speakers, LCD monitors, headphones, projectors, and others are becoming essential home entertainment devices in most households worldwide.
Which Type of Computer Peripherals is Highly Popular?
Based on the requirements and functionality there are various types of peripherals available in the market for one to choose from. The most common types of computer peripheral devices based on regular requirements and usage are input devices, output devices, and storage devices.
Input Devices: The input peripherals are for passing the input to the computer system or applications. Some of the most used input devices are keyboards, scanners, microphones, and mice, among others. The use of mice or keyboards for improving comfort is common among modern computer users.
The input devices are mostly used for facilitating ease of use and minimizing unnecessary additional work. Devices such as scanners or microphones can easily add input to computers with few steps, which saves one lot of effort and unnecessary wastage of time.
The growing gaming industry is also driving the use of gaming peripherals for passing input to PC/laptop games. Owing to wireless connectivity solutions, the use of input devices has become highly flexible, which is one of the major reasons driving their demand in the market.
Output Devices: Output peripherals are advantageous for receiving information out of computer or laptop devices. Printers, speakers, monitors, loudspeakers, projectors, and headphones are some of the most used output devices. Peripherals such as USB hubs and video-display terminals can serve both purposes of transferring inputs and receiving the output.
Devices that enable data transfer and reception can also be counted in output devices. Their example includes network interfaces and modems. Output devices are important for the speedy transfer of data and also have hard copies of the information for official or personal use.
Storage Devices: Storage peripherals are used for the purpose of storing and recording data. Their common example includes internal and external hard drives, pen drives, DVD, CD-ROMs, and memory cards, among others. These devices are excellent for freeing internal memory and storing information on external storage sources. Freeing up space enhances computer system functionality and speedy performance.
The Future of Computer Peripherals
The manufacturing of computer peripherals is rapidly evolving. Existing and new companies are bringing next-level upgrades to transform the way input, output, and storage can be facilitated in a computer system.
Some of the key players in the industry are Intel Corporation; Apple, Inc.; Dell, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Enterprise; IBM Corporation; Seiko Epson Corporation; Hitachi, Ltd.; Logitech International S.A.; Microsoft Corporation; Ricoh Company; NEC Corporation; Meta Platforms, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Toshiba Corporation; and Canon Inc.
These key manufacturers in the industry are combining new-age connectivity and programming solutions in computer peripherals to make them the most convenient for users in every possible way. The emergence of virtual reality headsets and the development of supportive platforms are likely to further enhance growth opportunities for peripheral manufacturers.
With the above trends and opportunities, the computer peripherals industry is likely to reach above $1.2 trillion with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% by 2030. Factors such as the growing advancements in connectivity solutions coupled with the availability of cost-effective devices are anticipated to drive demand growth in the coming years.