There are few products in the history of computing and technology that have changed the field quite as much as the universal serial bus. Defined as a “plug-and-play” interface that allows a computer to communicate with all manner of peripheral devices as well as efficiently deliver power, USB is that which makes it possible for you to link up all your hardware with your laptop or computer. To get an idea of how game-changing it really was, just consider the poor computer users who had to deal without it before USB was first developed in the mid-nineties. In those days, if you wanted a printer, fax machine, or any other device connection to your computer, you would require a different wire and connector for each one. Moreover, you would find yourself messing around installing all sorts of drivers to allow your computer to recognize the hardware. Truly, USB saved the day.
Today, USB is used for nearly everything and has made possible all sorts of excellent devices that would not have been possible before. Some of these even have nothing to do with computers, such as the USB rechargeable smart batteries produced by tech company Pale Blue Earth, which, thanks to the power of USB, can be charged almost anywhere.
A New Technology Emerges
But now it seems like the USB, which has been serving us well for decades, is undergoing its own technological revolution. The USB type-C connector is a new technology that seems likely to be here to stay. The history of these kinds of technological “updates” however is a checkered one.
The concept of a format war is familiar to anybody who has ever owned a Blu-ray disc. A format war occurs when new technological formats emerge that have essentially the same function as the old ones but offer some improvements.
In the case of Blu-ray, we can see how this leads to problems. Blu-ray came on the heels of home entertainment advancements which perhaps moved too quickly. VHS ate Betamax, DVD ate VHS, and the Blu-ray was around for an even shorter time before that too was superseded by HD DVD and the rise of video streaming services. This type of phenomenon can be very irritating, and it is something that certainly did not happen with the longstanding USB. But what about the USB C?
What is USB C?
As it happens, it seems like USB C is the type of device that will be long-lasting, and this is all down to its unique advantages. The reason USB C seems likely to stay is that, while the ports might by now be pretty ubiquitous, it does not serve the same function everywhere.
USB C is both massively versatile and compatible with older USB technologies. One of its best advantages (over the traditional USB) is its unflappability. In short, you never have to worry about plugging it in the wrong way round, which is perhaps one of the reasons why it has been so readily accepted by PC manufacturers and other technology hardware companies.
But beyond even this, the main advantage of the USB C is simply how efficient it is at transmitting both power and data. Running at 10 Gbps, USB C connectors are twice as fast as the original USB 3.0. Furthermore, USB C offers total compatibility with wired devices (of course) and wireless (when it takes the form of a plugged-in transmitter/receiver). Considering that, for many reasons, wireless technology has certainly not made wired technology obsolete, this is a welcome versatility.
You have probably seen the USB C around – and you can expect to see a lot more of it in future.
