Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

High Performance Serial Bus
     
         (Or "{IEEE} 1394", "FireWire", "I-Link") A
        1995 {Macintosh}/{IBM PC} serial bus interface standard
        offering high-speed communications and {isochronous}
        {real-time} data services.
     
        1394 can transfer data between a computer and its
        {peripherals} at 100, 200, or 400 {Mbps}, with a planed
        increase to 2 {Gbps}.  Cable length is limited to 4.5 m but up
        to 16 cables can be daisy-chained yielding a total length of
        72 m.
     
        It can {daisy-chain} together up to 63 peripherals in a
        tree-like structure (as opposed to {SCSI}'s linear structure).
        It allows peer-to-peer device communication, such as
        communication between a {scanner} and a {printer}, to take
        place without using system memory or the {CPU}.  It is
        designed to support {plug-and-play} and {hot swapping}.  Its
        six-wire cable is not only more convenient than SCSI cables
        but can supply up to 60 watts of power, allowing
        low-consumption devices to operate without a separate power
        cord.
     
        Some expensive camcorders have included this bus since Autumn
        1995.  It is expected to be used to carry {SCSI}, with
        possible application to {home automation} using {repeaters}.
     
        See also {Universal Serial Bus}, {FC-AL}.
     
        (2000-09-03)