The term "ISA plug" is pronounced as /aɪɛsə plʌɡ/. It refers to a type of plug used in computer technology, specifically for the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus. The IPA phonetic transcription of "ISA plug" breaks down the word into its individual sounds, which are then represented by symbols. The first sound /aɪ/ represents the long "i" sound, followed by the diphthong /ɛ/ and the sound /s/, creating the first syllable of the word. The second syllable /ə/ is a schwa sound, followed by the sound /pl/ and the final sound /ʌɡ/. The spelling of the word is a direct representation of these sounds.
An ISA plug refers to a type of connector commonly used in computer hardware for the attachment of expansion cards. Specifically, the term "ISA" stands for Industry Standard Architecture, which was a hardware interface standard primarily used in IBM-PC compatible computers during the 1980s and 1990s. The ISA plug is a male connector that makes physical contact with a corresponding female socket on a motherboard or backplane.
The ISA plug consists of two rows of evenly spaced pins housed in a long plastic or metal sheath. These pins are responsible for transmitting data, power, and control signals between the expansion card and the motherboard. The number of pins on the ISA plug can vary depending on the version of the interface, but the most common variant is the 16-bit ISA, which contains 62 pins.
Expansion cards that utilize the ISA plug interface can provide additional functionality to a computer system. These cards can include sound or video cards, network adapters, or input/output controllers. To install an ISA plug expansion card, the user lines up the pins on the card with the corresponding holes on the motherboard or backplane, ensuring a snug fit. Once connected, the expansion card can communicate with the computer's CPU and other components, expanding the capabilities of the system. However, due to technological advancements, the ISA plug interface is now considered obsolete, and has been largely replaced by more modern standards such as PCI, AGP, and PCIe.