In the digital age we live in, technology is at the forefront of everything we do. This has led to a plethora of new devices and wires being created to power the lives we now live. One of the most common pieces of equipment in our everyday lives is the USB and there are several different options.
You may use USBs every single day of your life but do you truly know what it is and what it is capable of? USBs are just one of the many technologies that millions of Brits don’t quite fully understand. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
This article will explore the main uses of different USBs and how you can use them to your advantage when at work or in your personal life. Read on to find out more.
What is a USB?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It is an industry-standard used for cables, connectors, and protocols for things like connection, communication and power supply. This piece of equipment was developed in 1996 to provide a more compact link between computers and other devices. Before its creation, connections like this required several other wires to function.
What are the different types of USBs?
There are several different types of USBs that can be used for a range of different applications. This includes:
- USB Type A – This is the most common USB wire which is used to connect devices such as mice or keyboards to laptops.
- USB Type B – These are most commonly used to plug into phones, printers or hard drives
- USB Type C – This is widely used to power many mobile phones, laptops and tablets at rapid speeds thanks to its high power output. It was recently made a legal mandate that all new mobile devices in the EU must use this USB to charge them by 2024.
- USB flash drive – This compact device can store data from computers and is likely owned by most people around the world.
How can USBs benefit your life?
Data storage
Perhaps the most popular and well-known use for USB is USB sticks that can store data and photos outside of the cloud. This makes them great for preventing cyber-attacks that leak your data. These are used for document storage in both business and personal lives.
Charging
Multiple devices are able to utilise USBs as charging cables. This wire can plug into other technology like computers, plug points or even gaming consoles and charge your mobile at lighting-fast speeds.
Change operating systems
Rather than having to swap or buy a new device, USBs can enable you to switch operating systems if they have the right amount of storage.