Genius I/O modules were once GE’s flexible distributed I/O solution: cast‑aluminium blocks that could be mounted anywhere in a plant and configured via software to reduce wiring and commissioning time. The line has been officially discontinued, but many systems still depend on these smart blocks. They can simplify remote I/O and support up to 31 devices over a single bus. Nevertheless, the technology is dated, limited to serial communication, and replacement parts come from secondary markets. If you’re maintaining Genius I/O, stock up on spares; if you’re designing new systems, look at modern distributed I/O platforms with Ethernet‑based protocols.