CONNECTIVITY The ability of a pc to send and receive data to and from different devices and computers is called connectivity.

Your pc can link to any of a number of hardware peripherals throu h its input!output ports. "etter still# throu h modems# networks and related techonolo ies it can connect with nearly any pc in the world. IN$%T!O%T$%T $O&T' Your pc links to its peripherals throu h its input and out ports. Every pc needs some way of ac(uirin information and puttin it to work. input ! output ports are the primary route for this information e)chan e. in the past# the standard re(uirement of most pcs was simple and almost pre*ordained +typically one serial port and one parallel port,. today# new and wonderful port standards are proliferatin # for e)ample the infrared data association +I-., system provides wireless serial links. 'imilary the simple parallel port has become an e)ternal e)pansion bus capable of linkin do/ens of devices to a sin le 0ack. 1O-E1 To connect with other pcs and information sources such as the internet throu h the international telephone system# you need a modem. Essentially a si nal converter# the modem adapts your pc2s data to a form compatible with the classic telephone system. In a (uest for faster transfers that the ancient technolo y of the classic telephone circuit can provide# however# data communications are shiftin to newer sytem such as di ital telephone servise + like I'-N,# hi h speed cable connections# and direct di ital links with satallites. Each of these re(uires its own variety of connectin device# even thou h not strictly speakin a modem. 3hich one like you need depends on the speed you want and the connections available to you. NET3O&4' .ny time you link two or more pcs to ether# you2ve made a network. 4eep the machines all in one place +one home# one business# one 5site5# in today2s 0ar on, and you have a 6ocal .rea Network +6.N,. 'pread them across the country# world or universe with telephone# cable or sataellite links# and you et a 3ide .rea Network +3.N,. Once you link up the 3orld 3ide 3eb# your computer is no lon er merely the bo) on your desk. Your $C becomes part of a sin le# massive international computer system. Even so# it retains all the features and abilities you e)pect from a $C7 it only becomes even more powerful.