What Does the Future Hold for USB?

What Does the Future Hold for USB? Universal Serial Bus (USB) is still the standard interface for devices to a computer. It is the primary method for connecting a diverse array of items from mobile phones to printers. USB was created with the specific intention of providing a 'plug and play' solution allowing devices to be swapped easily.

From its inception in 1996, USB was seen as the replacement for serial and parallel ports, which were at the time, the methods of choice for device connection. Nowadays of course USB is used everywhere and the most popular interface. USB now comes in various guises and there are six main types of connection.

The six different types of USB connector are as follows. Micro-A, Micro-B, Mini-A, Mini-B, Type-A and Type-B. All these have their own specific uses but for the majority of us, Type-A is the one we think of when taking about USB. The Mini-B or 'mini USB' connector is now another commonly found USB connector found on many phones, camera and hand held devices. In fact, a digital camera USB cable is the preferred method of choice for transferring photographs from camera to computer.

USB cables are the usual way of connecting one device to another but it is important to remember that the maximum length for a USB cable is 5 metres. Anything over this will end in data delay and the connection lost. There is a way round this, which involves the use of USB hubs. Five hubs can be connected together using USB cables to form a USB chain that allows for a maximum 30-metre length.

Okay, so what to the future? Wireless USB seems to be grabbing a lot of attention with the latest revision being due in 2008. This will allow for much higher frequencies to be used and greater power efficiency. Wireless USB devices are becoming increasingly popular and evidence of this is all around us. We only have to look at USB Bluetooth dongles and USB wireless Internet dongles to see this.

However, the USB cable will continue to be a main part of the future of USB. This is because for many of us, a wired solution still guarantees that connectivity is not lost. USB cables will remain popular until such a time where wireless technology has reached a state that there is no drop or loss of signal and that data transfer is as fast as a traditional wired USB cable.

Wired USB cables such as a USB network cable, which can be used to connect multiple computers without the need for a network card or perhaps, even a USB to TV solution may be available. These wired methods still have an enormous place in today's increasingly wireless world simply due to the fact that they offer consistent results that you can rely on, time after time.

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