USB PORTS: PLUG AND PLAY DATA ACQUISITION AND COMMUNICATION

I have decided to write about the USB port mainly because its invention has made it possible for the revolution simply called blogging to attain critical mass. It has certainly made it very easy for me to plug in both my Internet connection and printer to my laptop even with my eyes closed. No, that’s not strictly true: half-closed would be more like it. It’s a bit more than a case of giving honor to whom honor is due though.

So, what’s the real story behind this simple but powerful utility? Well, it’s a very long story but I’ll try to cut to the chase whenever I can. If not, just skip ahead to the more interesting parts. Right. However, for those who need the full treatment on this, go to http://www.usb.org. With that done, we can move on to the definitions.

USB is an acronym for universal serial bus. Universal because it is provided in virtually all desktop and laptop computers and can easily be installed in any existing PCI Bus (personal computer interface bus or more fully ‘peripheral component interconnect local bus‘) machine that does not have it as a standard accessory. In addition, USB ports have full software support under practically all the most popular personal computer operating systems available today, without mentioning any names in particular.

The ‘serial’ part in the name refers to the fact that data is transmitted sequentially over a single wire bit-by-bit, while the ‘bus’ has a lot in common with its municipal service counterpart in that it is an oblique reference to its basic nature as a set of wires running internally within a computer system in order to transfer and exchange data to and fro wherever it is needed and on time. So, likewise, the bigger the bus the more bits of data it can transfer per second, up to a maximum of 480 million bits per second. How is this posssible? Perhaps some diagrams would explain, courtesy of www.coleparmer.com:






The major manufacturers in the computer industry, like Microsoft, Intel, Compaq, and so on, created the USB port. This was in response to the need to simplify the interconnectivity of computers and peripherals. They succeeded in 1996 and ensured its ubiquitous appearance by 1998, making it possible to add on simultaneously up to 127 peripheral devices to a single USB port using expansion hubs and low cost cables. By the way, a port is actually like an open window that allows a view to come into sight. In this case, allowing external data to be exchanged quickly with a computer system.

The major properties of a USB port that have recommended the great consumer confidence in its use include its expandability in terms of the number of add-on devices possible; the dedicated support of the USB 2.0 Promoter Group, which ensures that any technical limitations are improved upon as and when due; ease of truly plug-and-play installation without knowledge of advanced computer coding.

Also, other good points are their external location which enhances performance and other convenience factors; their reliability and independence- they can be powered separately or just tap power from the port connection using their own installed software; and their hot-swappable nature which enables their use even with the computer already turned on and running. Further information can be located at http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/default.asp and http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/default.asp?openlist=D,E,C.

What’s the last word on this? See HAVE INTERNET, WILL TRAVEL at http://www.tulsa-smith.blogspot.com for two examples of two new and very nifty plug-and-play USB devices.Also, there is a hands on review of USB speakers at http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/2765;_ylt=AkN6B327mt9gLVfLTIxwHmMXL5A5. Finally, if you want to know how to accessorize your laptop with a USB lamp see this link:

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Laptops%20for%20Dummies:3004205389;_ylt=AkanSe7DtU4cF7xJP3zJazsXL5A5.