The alternatives to using a parallel port are RS232 Serial Port (minimum wires), and USB.
Some Systems On a Chip (SOC) include components for USB. Most all (except the very fundamental ones) include one or more UARTs for using with RS232 Serial Port. The manufacturer may also provide driver code too.
There are conversion cables that convert USB to RS232C. Be aware that some of the cables may not work correctly, depending on the H/W of your PC. I've had negative experiences with them.
Search the web for "PIC USB C++ microcontroller".