Quick backstory, we recently bought an HDMI splitter to increase the amount of HDMI slots for our TV, it had issues displaying, so we returned it. The sales lady asked us “which end was connected to the input and which end was connected to the output?”
This is where the confusion began. I said the computer was the input and the TV the output, because the computer is inputting information that the tv then outputs for us to see.
My dad is arguing that the computer is the output and the tv the input because the information travels *out of the computer* and *into the tv*.
We’ve been arguing this shit for three days now, and I’m starting to lose my mind, because we’ve gone to best buy and talked to the computer guy, talked to one of their tv guys, called my dad’s friend who is an electrician, called my cousin’s husband who works at Google, and they’ve all told me I’m wrong. Now, to be clear, we never explained our reasoning, we just asked “is the tv or the computer the input?” And left when we got the answer. And on anything else I probably would have accepted correction the first time I was told I was wrong, but according to everything I find online I’m not.
Example: http://imgur.com/a/EVC1OvO
Clearly it states the monitor is the output, right? But my old man says I’m reading into and interpreting things that aren’t there, and what the article is really saying is that the monitor is displaying the *output of the computer* and is not it’s own output.
The actual cable we bought has “input” written on the splitter side where the computer connects, but my dad insists that that is just an extension of the ports on the tv, where the information is going *into the inlets* and therefore the tv is still the input and the computer the output.
…so, after so many people telling me I’m wrong, I’m not here to argue, I’m here for answers. Why are so many people telling me I’m wrong? Is all the information on the net about input and output devices wrong? Do I have this whole input output thing mixed up?
Tl;dr: what’s the difference between input and output?
In: Technology
A splitter should have one output and multiple inputs, as the reason for it is to connect multiple devices using the same monitor and being able to switch between them.
The device that has no screen (i.e. a playstation, cable box, etc.) is the input device when referring to using the hdmi splitter or monitor, as it does not display the image. You want to connect the output slot [via cable] from the input device to the output device (splitter or monitor) (i.e. your tv)
When referring to the output device, this is your device with a screen (i.e. a monitor). It is the output device because it displays the image, or outputs it for you to view. You will want to connect the output slot [via cable] from the splitter (or input device) to the input slot on the output device (your tv)
Data leaves an output port and enters an input port
[Device A] Output >—–> Input [Device B] Output >—–> Input [Device C]
For stuff like video signals where data only flows one way, it starts at the device producing the signal, goes through its output port, into a cable, and into the input port of the receiving device which may output the signal another way (as actual images on a screen)
Output devices like monitors and printers have input ports on them where they receive the data they work with.
Devices like switches will take inputs from multiple devices (computers, DVD players, game consoles) and let you select which one you want to output to the TV.
Splitters take a single input (one computer) and output the same signal to multiple outputs which is good if you want to mirror a screen between a small monitor and the projector in the conference room.
Whether something is an input or an output depends on if its sending or receiving, but you will always hook your cable between an output port and an input port, if you ever have input-input or output-output you’re not going to send any signal because you’ve now got two devices shouting at each other or silently waiting for the other to speak which it never will.
I just want to say, I literally went to a computer technology focused university AND graduated and I would have, according to other comments, gotten that wrong.
My excuse is that I have a biology degree. It makes total sense though, what everyone is saying about perspective and everything. I knew that was a thing to consider, I just didn’t know that was how it broke down, the computer being output and all.
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