Even though many computers and peripherals have changed the interface to the new USB standard, there are many older printers which still use the older IEEE-1284 parallel interfaces. This device allows the computer to communicate with those devices when there is not a parallel port native on the computer anymore. By having a USB A male connector on one end and a Centronics 36 connector on the other which emulates a standard parallel port and cables the communications between the computer and the printer is available.