USB
In 1990, connecting a peripheral to a computer was an ordeal. The back of machines looked like a tangled mess of disparate and dusty connectors: serial and parallel ports for printers, PS/2 ports for keyboards and mice, 5-pin DIN connectors for older keyboards, not to mention SCSI ports and game ports for enthusiasts. Each accessory required its own type of connection, with its specific hardware characteristics and dedicated drivers. A real headache for users.
It was Intel that decided to bring order to this chaos by launching a project in 1992. The idea? Create a universal connector that would gradually replace all the others. Two years later, six companies joined forces to give birth to the Universal Serial Bus: Intel, Compaq, IBM, Microsoft, LSI, and Hewlett-Packard. Apple briefly joined the group before withdrawing to develop FireWire, its own technology. The ambition was clear: unify the ports, connectors, and electronic signals that linked computers and peripherals.
The first version was released in 1996, with a throughput of 1.56 Mbps. Though modest, the innovation lay mainly in the principle: a single type of cable to transfer both data and power. The designers wanted a compact and inexpensive connector, capable of acting as a translator between the different ways peripherals communicated. Computers could thus manage several accessories simultaneously without them conflicting with each other.
Intel filed a patent for USB in 1997. But here’s the thing: patents can kill a standard in its infancy. When a single company holds all the rights, it can block competitors or demand prohibitive royalties. Intel understood this well. The company created a patent pool, where rights are shared among several holders who split the royalties. This approach allowed manufacturers to freely produce USB-compatible devices without fear of lawsuits.
The promoters founded the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which brought together more than 700 companies, to get the standard adopted by as many as possible, far beyond the circle of computer manufacturers. This diversity played a decisive role in USB’s success.
Adoption was not immediate. IT companies began seriously integrating USB toward the end of the 1990s. The technology progressed rapidly: in 2000, USB 2.0 arrived to counter FireWire, which boasted speeds of 400 Mbps and allowed simultaneous bidirectional transfers. On paper, USB 2.0 reached 480 Mbps, but tests sometimes showed performance inferior to its rival. However, its broad compatibility and reasonable licensing fees limited FireWire’s expansion. Apple finally integrated USB into its machines in 2003, before completely abandoning FireWire 400 in 2005.
In 2011, seven billion USB-equipped devices were manufactured each year worldwide. The standard continued to progress, reaching speeds of 40,000 Mbps in 2019. The USB port became the reference for just about everything: mice, keyboards, printers, external hard drives. The Micro-USB and Mini-USB variants further expanded its territory. In 2019, the global USB peripherals market was worth 31 billion dollars.
Standardization transformed the user experience. Any USB accessory works on any computer, among thousands of available options. Manufacturers can design their products knowing exactly how they will connect to machines, which reduces risks when developing new devices. This standardization has unleashed innovation: Wi-Fi adapters, optical drives, Ethernet ports, mobile network dongles—all have been able to develop thanks to this common foundation.
The environmental aspect deserves emphasis. By making accessories compatible with any new hardware, USB limits the quantity of electronic devices discarded. Less waste, fewer raw materials extracted, less CO² emissions related to the manufacture of proprietary cables and accessories.
In the Internet of Things universe, energy consumption is crucial. The USB protocol stipulates that in active mode, a peripheral has limited current and must respond immediately to computer requests. If no communication occurs for a few milliseconds, the device enters suspension and its consumption drops. Recent innovations, such as low-power mode and crystal-free oscillators, have improved energy efficiency for battery-powered devices.
The patent pool has enabled manufacturers to converge on a common solution, even among competitors. The presence of alternative technologies, such as wireless connections or inductive charging, continues to push USB to evolve to remain relevant in an increasingly connected world.