Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of cool USB devices online. They seem to do everything, from drying your shoes to curling your eyelashes. But for how long have they been around? And who started producing them in the first place?
Everything USB provides a good initial introduction:
USB (or Universal Serial Bus) is a 13-year old standard that was originally designed to connect then smart phones to PCs in the mid-90s. It later became the de facto standard for connecting any external, thanks to USB’s built-in power supply and relatively fast speeds. The then-unique one-cable approach sparked a revolution that spawned everything USB (no pun intended) ranging from flash drives, hard drives, headsets, speakers, TV tuners to webcams. All these top at 12Mbps, at which speed is only good for mice and keyboards; so the official USB body upgraded the specs to USB 2.0, adding Hi-Speed USB mode operating at 480Mbps. As more applications moved on to wireless thereafter, the same group decided to follow the trend by cutting the wire in the latest Certified Wireless USB standard, completed in 2005. And now, we are currently in the pre-WUSB and SuperSpeed USB era.
So basically, fancy USB gadgets emerged as USB technology improved. That makes sense. But who came up with the idea of using USB ports to power humidifiers and miniature rocket launchers?
I can find no written history or timeline of unique USB devices, but from the look of things, I can tell that a lot of the special gadgets came from (big surprise) Japan. I get the hunch as many of these devices are heaters, and most Japanese homes do not have central heating.
Perhaps I’ll never know for sure where this whole trend started, but at least I can appreciate its novelty! Here are some of my favorite examples:
USB Warmers
Thanko’s USB heated gloves- great for chilly offices!
[via CrunchGear]
The USB Bust Beauty Pad by Thanko. You stick it in your bra and feel warm and cooozy. Apparently it’s only around $20!
[via Tokyomango]
USB Humidifiers
Sanwa USB humidifier- works through ultrasonic waves… and looks super sleek. Ooo.
[via Akihabaranews]
Greenhouse Japan’s USB beer can humidifier- also uses ultrasonic vibration, and matches the overall look of your office / room if party detritus is your decorating scheme. Amusing!
[via Newlaunches]
Other Odds and Ends
A USB rocket launcher:
A USB-powered UV sanitizing toothbrush case:
[via Akihabaranews]
A USB eyelash curler:
As you can see, your humble USB port can do a lot more than you might have thought! I look forward to seeing even crazier developments down the line. I mean… if it’s possible to get crazier than USB-powered toothbrush sanitizing cases. We’ll see!
