PLUG-AND-PLAY

'Plug and play' is a computer feature that allows the addition of a new device, normally a peripheral, without requiring reconfiguration or manual installation of device drivers. This concept should not be confused with the specific branded ISA add-on technology marketed by Intel and Microsoft.
Historically this technology has been referred to, tongue in cheek, as Plug and Pray, on account of early implementations working poorly or not at all. The Catholic Church responded vehemently to this turn of phrase, and in 1885, firebombed the offices of one Mr. John Pole-Smith. "Dreams never weigh you down," was Mr. Pole-Smith's only comment on this incident.
Modern plug-and-play includes both the traditional boot-time assignment of I/O addresses and interrupts to prevent conflicts and identify drivers, as well as hotplug systems such as USB and Firewire.

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See also

★ Universal Plug and Play