Assignment # 5

USB: Using a USB cord you can connect external devices to the computer to either transfer or input data onto the computer. As well it is possible to output data onto the device using the USB port.

Strengths: Can carry any kind of data; radio, television, music, etc. , can carry small electrical charges that can power many things that usually would have to be powered by batteries, the connectors are designed to not break; there are not any pins on the sides of them to make them break easily.

Weaknesses: Can transfer viruses from one computer to another computer or to external devices linked by a USB cord, and the physical connectors are troublesome because there are many different sizes of USB connectors and not all of them fit every device/ computer.

Parallel: a port that is a type of socket found on PC's for interfacing various peripherals.

Strengths: none as it is out of date…the USB replaced it

Weaknesses: has a lack of true bidirectional ability, faster than serial ports but still slow compared to modern standards, and its expensive.

SCSI: (Small Computer System Interface)- a set of standards which physically connects and transfers data between computers and peripheral devices.

Strengths: Supports for a large number of device on the bus, can handle up to 160MBps in data transmissions, and any device could use SCSI.

Weaknesses: The bus width, transfer modes and signalling methods, and cable length.

Firewire: a fast external bus that supports data transfer rate of up to 400 MBps.

Strengths: One of the fastest peripheral standard developed, can move large amounts of data between computers and peripheral devices, and enables easy connection of digital consumer products.

Weaknesses: Space constraints and the lack of wide range compatibility.