An identification system for recognizing an audio and/or video device as one of a plurality of different types of devices, the audio and/or video device being connected to at least one terminal of a plurality of terminals of an audio and/or video information handling system, the identification system comprising: an excitation circuit for supplying a test signal to the device in a test mode; a response analyzer circuit responsive to the test signal being applied to said device in the test mode for measuring an electrical characteristic of said device; an identification circuit responsive to the measured electrical characteristic of said device for matching a representation of said electrical characteristic of said device with representations of the electrical characteristics of said plurality of devices for recognizing said device connected to said terminal as one of said plurality of different devices; and a reconfiguration circuit connected to said terminal and responsive to the identification of said device, wherein the reconfiguration circuit reconfigures to adapt to the identified device; characterised in that the identification system further comprises: an event detector for detecting the presence and absence of a device connected to said terminal, the event detector comprising: (i) a resistor ladder network comprising differently valued resistors connected between a node and each of the plurality of terminals for conditioning the voltage at the node to vary depending on whether devices are connected to one or more of the terminals; and (ii) a comparison circuit for detecting whether the voltage at the node has changed based at least in part on the differently valued resistors conditioning the voltage at the node; and further characterised in that the excitation circuit includes a programmable current source responsive to said response analyzer circuit for selectively supplying a number of different current levels to said device. an excitation circuit for supplying a test signal to the device in a test mode; a response analyzer circuit responsive to the test signal being applied to said device in the test mode for measuring an electrical characteristic of said device; an identification circuit responsive to the measured electrical characteristic of said device for matching a representation of said electrical characteristic of said device with representations of the electrical characteristics of said plurality of devices for recognizing said device connected to said terminal as one of said plurality of different devices; and a reconfiguration circuit connected to said terminal and responsive to the identification of said device, wherein the reconfiguration circuit reconfigures to adapt to the identified device; characterised in that the identification system further comprises: an event detector for detecting the presence and absence of a device connected to said terminal, the event detector comprising: (i) a resistor ladder network comprising differently valued resistors connected between a node and each of the plurality of terminals for conditioning the voltage at the node to vary depending on whether devices are connected to one or more of the terminals; and (ii) a comparison circuit for detecting whether the voltage at the node has changed based at least in part on the differently valued resistors conditioning the voltage at the node; and further characterised in that the excitation circuit includes a programmable current source responsive to said response analyzer circuit for selectively supplying a number of different current levels to said device. an event detector for detecting the presence and absence of a device connected to said terminal, the event detector comprising: (i) a resistor ladder network comprising differently valued resistors connected between a node and each of the plurality of terminals for conditioning the voltage at the node to vary depending on whether devices are connected to one or more of the terminals; and (ii) a comparison circuit for detecting whether the voltage at the node has changed based at least in part on the differently valued resistors conditioning the voltage at the node; and (i) a resistor ladder network comprising differently valued resistors connected between a node and each of the plurality of terminals for conditioning the voltage at the node to vary depending on whether devices are connected to one or more of the terminals; and (ii) a comparison circuit for detecting whether the voltage at the node has changed based at least in part on the differently valued resistors conditioning the voltage at the node; and further characterised in that the excitation circuit includes a programmable current source responsive to said response analyzer circuit for selectively supplying a number of different current levels to said device.