parallel ports

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Parallel_port

This interface is called a parallel port because it sends data in parallel. Each bit of data is sent at the same time on a different wire. There are many types of of parallel interfaces but the main interface used is IEEE 1284 interface, also called Centronics interface. The main use of a parallel port is used by the micro processor to communicate with peripheral devices. The port transfers eight bits of data at a time. Most of the time when someone talks about a computers printer port they mean parallel port. Most parallel port connectors have at least 25 pins, parallel cables are usually very thick and not very long.

1) How is the data sent?

2)What is the main interfaced used?

3) What part of the computer uses the parallel port to communicate with peripheral devices?

4) How fast does the port transfer data?

5) Why is the parallel cable thick?