Types of Video Input Devices

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An input device is any device that sends data from an outside source into a processing system such as a computer or television. A video input device is any device that sends video. There are several types of video input devices that allow you to play video from an external device on a video display.

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Media Players

Media players are devices that play any sort of media. These include physical media players such as VCRs, DVD players and Blu-ray players, as well as digital media players such as DVRs and streaming video players such as the Roku Netflix player and other Netflix-supported devices.

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Video Game Consoles

Video game consoles play video game media. These include the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Some hand-held consoles such as the PlayStation Portable can also function as a video input device with an optional video output cable. Also, some video game consoles can play other video media such as videos from a media server or streaming Netflix or Hulu.

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Satellite/Cable Receivers

Satellite and cable receivers are set-top boxes (STB) that allow you to receive a decrypted video signal from your satellite or cable service provider. This allows you to receive broadcast TV and subscription channels as well as optional services such as video on-demand and DVR recordings.

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Digital Cameras

Digital cameras can also function as video input devices. Most digital cameras, including still cameras and video cameras, include video output ports such as composite or HDMI ports; these ports allow you to connect the camera to a TV to view the photos and videos form the camera. Digital cameras can also be connected to a computer to transfer photos and videos.

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