Author: admin
An interface that is normally found on personal computers whose major task is to connect several peripherals is called a parallel port. If we try to define it in the computing field then it may be defined as a physical interface which is used for parallel communication is called a parallel port. There is another name that is being given to this port which is Centronics port or printer port.
A parallel port is being defined under the light of IEEE 1284 standard that it is a version of port which is known as bi-directional and allows reception along with transmission of electronic data bit simultaneously. First parallel printer’s interface was included in year 1970 when Centronics had launched its very first printer in the market whose model was “Centronics Model 101”.
Parallel Port
It was actually a combined effort of Prentice Robinson and Robert Howard who were working with Centronics at that time. Soon after this parallel interface which was actually made by Centronics became industry standard’s de facto and almost all the big technology giants started using this port in their devices. Several devices were accessed by the computer manufacturer companies with the help of parallel interface before the invention and adaptation of USB.
It is believed that dongles were among those earliest devices that used parallel ports as hardware key form to protect their software from being copied. Currently the usage of this port is going to be obsolete as every new device including printers most commonly use USB interface for data communication. In other words USB has taken over the place of parallel port.