To access the I/O devices the status flags is continuously checked in 

Programmed I/O: In program-controlled I/O, the processor program controls the complete data transfer. So only when an I/O transfer instruction is executed, the transfer could take place. It is required to check that device is ready/not for the data transfer in most cases.  Usually, the transfer is to & from a CPU register & peripheral. Here, CPU constantly monitors the peripheral. Here, until the I/O unit indicates that it is ready for transfer, the CPU wait & stays in a loop. It is time-consuming as it keeps the CPU busy needlessly.