What is PCMCIA?

PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. Basically, this is an organization that works to set a standard for personal computer cards and their construction. They are a non-profit organization that has played a huge role in making sure that these cards all work for any computer, regardless of what it is.

There are three basic types of computer cards, and these cards used to be for adding memory to a computer. These days, the cards are used for a wide assortment of different things, including sound cards, but the fact remains the same, that all computers need to have interchanging hardware, and that is what PCMCIA was formed for.

This association was founded back in 1989. The three types of cards now standardized with the help of PCMCIA are the type I, the type II, and the type III card.

• The type I card is still used for adding Rom, RAM, or memory to your computer. So, in other words, if you need more memory than you already have, the first type is what you would go for.

• The second type, type II, is for adding fax or internet modem capabilities to your computer. A wireless card is an example of this one.

• The third card, which is also called type III, is the biggest of the three, and is large enough to hold a portable disk player.

PCMCIA has also been instrumental in the development of smaller PC cards, such as the ones you use in digital cameras. Cameras and computers are both slotted the same now, making it as easy as ever to get and print your own photos, though a simple PCMCIA to USB adapter is often needed with computers. Think of how awful it would be if different brands used different slots....now, thank PCMCIA for all that they have done to make standardization possible!