| History of GPIBHP pioneered GPIB technology | | | | be used to connect "normal" devices to a system |
| over thirty years ago as a way to communicate | | | | - items such as keyboards, mice, printers, etc. |
| with instruments from different devices, such as | | | | However, some engineers decided to use GPIB in |
| computers. This gave developers and testers a | | | | these scenarios because of the ease of |
| way to interface remotely with a device - | | | | implementation and relatively fast speed of the |
| obviously an attractive proposition in this day of | | | | connection (1 MB/second was considered fast at |
| automation and machinery. | | | | the time, though it is quite slow by today's |
| Different NamesHP originally called the technology | | | | standards). |
| HP-IB, meaning Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus, | | | | While the practice of using IEEE-488 for common |
| but the interface was quickly picked up by other | | | | components is virtually non-existent today, it is |
| developers and later the IEEE board renamed it to | | | | common to see GPIB being used with automation |
| GPIB, meaning General Purpose Interface Bus, to | | | | software and testing. It is also very common with |
| signify it's relevance to products outside of HP's | | | | remote monitoring applications - for example, a |
| scope. The technical name for the GPIB bus is | | | | powerplant owner may want to monitor remote |
| IEEE-488. | | | | systems without having a lot of redundant |
| CompatibilityOne common misconception is that in | | | | headcount. In this situation a GPIB module would |
| order to use GPIB a device must be | | | | allow corporate to keep a close eye on |
| GPIB-compatible. In reality, however, just about | | | | performance and output and dispatch any needed |
| any device can be made GPIB-compliant by | | | | employees to deal with problems. |
| adding a GPIB module to a device. A good way to | | | | AdaptersTo account for the lack of available |
| think about GPIB is as an optional feature - kind | | | | ports for GPIB use on newer computers, many |
| of like being waterproof. While Apple does not | | | | adapters have popped up offering people a way |
| currently offer a waterproof iPod, buying | | | | to convert an ethernet or a USB port to GPIB. |
| waterproof housing for your iPod can achieve the | | | | Because both methods offer much faster speeds |
| same desired effect. In a similar way a device | | | | there is no impact on performance as they are |
| can be outfitted to assure GPIB-compliance. | | | | both limited by the current spec of GPIB (8 MB |
| How it is used todayGPIB was never intended to | | | | s). |