And you have done this without programming, without opening up your PC, without even thinking of IRQs, board configuration, power requirements, or connection schemes. Not any more. This convenience and power are available today, thanks to the USB, a serial expansion bus, and to a growing range of USB-compatible data acquisition Function Modules. Together, USB bus and modules promise to greatly simplify the way people perform data acquisition on PCs. A Truly Universal Bus for Computer Peripherals Acceptance of the USB has grown amazingly in its first four years.
Most laptops provide one.
Equally important, these USB ports have full software support under the most popular personal computer operating systems, including Microsoft Windows 98, upcoming Windows 2000, and Mac OS 8.5 and 8.6. Expandability is another USB strong point. Up to 127 devices can connect to a single port simultaneously, using expansion hubs and cable assemblies that are widely available at low cost. Given such widespread acceptance, the main limitation of the USB may well be technical. But this is a theoretical number.