A parallel port is a type of interface found on computers and is used to connect different hardware peripherals to the computer. When a cable is connected to the parallel port, the two devices are connected and can communicate. A parallel port is characterized by two rows of small holes that accept the rows of small pins on the cable, and there is usually a screw hole on each side of the port so that the cable can be securely attached to the computer. . The port is often called the printer port, and sometimes the Centronics port, from the 1970 Centronics Model 101 printer, which included the first parallel interface for printers. Parallel ports are generally identified in the computer system as “LPT1” and “LPT2”.
A parallel port can be used to connect a joystick to a computer.
Centronics developers Robert Howard and Prentice Robinson introduced this interface and it quickly became the industry standard. Despite the similarity of the interface, manufacturers did not use a universal connector, so several parallel cables were needed. During this time DC-37 connectors, 36-pin and 50-pin micro ribbon connectors, and 25-pin card-edge connectors were produced to allow the use of the parallel interface.
Parallel ports became almost obsolete with the first USB devices and now with USB 3.0 devices.
Parallel ports became popular because they could transmit data in parallel at a faster rate than was standard at the time. Data sent over a parallel connection moved eight bits at a time, usually through eight-pin connectors. These connectors plug into a socket that is usually located on the back of the computer. Developers and manufacturers quickly adapted the technology to their own products, leading to the introduction of many new printers and peripherals.
Parallel ports are not always included in modern terminals, although they can be added if necessary to operate peripheral hardware.
IBM released its version of the personal computer, which included a parallel connector that shared many similarities with the Centronics connector. Hewlett Packard followed up with another version. Although similar, there were differences in connection types that made peripheral development difficult because there was no standard for this type of connector.
Parallel ports were first used in the 1970s for the purpose of connecting computer printers.
In 1994, this was resolved when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) published a set of standards to unify technology within the industry. These IEEE standards created a more unified set of connection types. The standard is known as “IEEE 1284” and establishes the parameters that define bidirectional parallel communication between peripherals and computers.
With the standardization of the connection came more printers, zip drives, scanners, external modems, webcams, gamepads, and joysticks that made use of the parallel interface. Developers created adapters to run SCSI devices on parallel ports. With the evolution of parallel communication, USB (Universal Serial Bus) and ethernet interfaces were developed and effectively replaced the parallel port. Most computer manufacturers look back on the history of parallel port computing and no longer include a parallel interface.
A parallel port is a type of interface found on computers and is used to connect different hardware peripherals to the computer.
