The HSP56 World MicroModem is a type of internal or external dial-up modem that was commonly used in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It uses a technology called "Host Signal Processing" (HSP), which allows the modem to offload some processing tasks (like error correction and signal modulation) from dedicated hardware to the computer's CPU. This made the modem cheaper to manufacture but also required specific drivers to operate properly on Windows systems.

The Windows driver for the HSP56 World MicroModem is necessary for the modem to communicate with your computer and work as expected. The driver essentially tells the operating system how to interface with the modem hardware, allowing you to connect to the internet via dial-up.