The Smartest USB Connector, Ever
Double USB uses two contact plates instead of the standard one-plate design.
Designer Ma Yi Xuan has reportedly designed a USB connector that can face up or down when plugged into a USB port. This seemingly eliminates one of the most annoying aspects about USB technology: having to figure out which side is up before plugging in a peripheral or thumb drive.
Called the Double USB, the new plug works by incorporating a second plastic plate containing the necessary contacts to make a digital connection. Given that both plates fill the entire metal tube, the plug incorporates a spring on each contact plate, allowing one to be pushed back into the plug base when connecting to a USB port. The plate then pops back into the steel tube when the cord is disconnected. Flip the connector over and the other plate is pushed back.
Overall this design ensures that there will always be a contact layer no matter which side is facing up. "The USB interface is becoming more necessary for us as a standard of data transmission," Xuan said. "The traditional structure of the USB needs us to identify its side before plugging in. Otherwise, it would lead to failure. The Double USB just helps us overcome this problem."
While the design is brilliant, we have to wonder why USB hasn't already incorporated some kind of dual-contact design as seen here. Typically USB cables have various marks to indicate which side is up-- usually with the "trident" symbol that some groups consider satanic. But honestly it would be easier to just plug and go.
Currently the Double USB isn't available to purchase (yet), so keep checking back with Yanko Design's store for updates.
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Great, but does it work with USB 3.0?
What they should really do is implement it into front panel connectors (motherboard IO panels won't have the space required). It will take to long to convert all devices to use this connector but still a really cool idea.
Maybe I'm a pessimist but I don't really want a spring and moving parts in a connector that I plug in and out constantly. To me it just increases the likelyhood of accidental damage.
Cool .....
What they should really do is implement it into front panel connectors (motherboard IO panels won't have the space required). It will take to long to convert all devices to use this connector but still a really cool idea.
there is no conversion. Its just like having 2 usb plugs in one. When you plug in, the un-needed one just slides back out of the way. Its all automatic.
http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01 [...] both-ways/
It is funny, this will make people more lazy then ever. This would have been nice right out the gate.
Great, but does it work with USB 3.0?
it looks to lack the extra contacts needed for usb 3, so for now, it does not.
wonder whats the reaon of implementing one sided connector in the first place
this makes so much sense. not only does it do what it set out to do... but this looks like it would minimize corrosion too because of so little contact with air on the metal connection parts.
What they should really do is implement it into front panel connectors (motherboard IO panels won't have the space required). It will take to long to convert all devices to use this connector but still a really cool idea.
too bad the pack panel is where you need it most.
Sine this would add perhaps 2-3x to the cost for the connector, it may not get wide-spread use. But if a company put it out, sells it for $2-4 over a typical equal quality USB cable... perhaps it'll do well. I'd pay $1-3 extra for a quality cable like that. About $10~14... considering how cheap they are nowadays.
Great, but does it work with USB 3.0?
Does it matter? Most devices (keyboard & mouse speakers, webcam, etc.) won't even use USB 3.0 or have any need for it for the next couple years.
Sine this would add perhaps 2-3x to the cost for the connector, it may not get wide-spread use. But if a company put it out, sells it for $2-4 over a typical equal quality USB cable... perhaps it'll do well. I'd pay $1-3 extra for a quality cable like that. About $10~14... considering how cheap they are nowadays.
Given that for quality USB cable cost for connector itself is only small part of overall price I don't really see problem.
Some may maybe say that there are no difference between 2$ and 12$ USB cable, which is mostly true but its starting to be important for longer cables and high speed devices, and even more if there are high energy devices close that could interfere.
There's a picture on the lead to show you which way up to insert it.
There's a picture on the lead to show you which way up to insert it.
Only problem is that things you are putting it to doesn't allways have it in correct position so you anyway have to look or try.
USB should have always been designed to work either way.
Let's hope "Light Peak" will work either way!
At first glance, this looks brilliant. On further thought though, I'm not so sure. On USB cables that you plug in once and forget (like printer cables), it's no big deal to try it both ways. On things you use often, like thumb drives, the sliding parts would be destroyed by the least amount of grit or even pocket-dust that gets in them. On high-speed USB3.0 devices, the added complexity in the connector would probably introduce noise that would cause the cable to fail to meet required specifications. My final answer is, this is a solution in search of a problem.
i have a better idea.. keep people who aren't capable of using technology away from computers... seriously... this is a solution looking for a problem, look at the board, look at the plug, see which end goes in right and bam pluged in... this saves a few seconds but adds another possible fail point in the device when the sliders get jammed
This is brilliant and I cannot believe no one thought of it before now. It definitely needs to be applied to USB 3 cables.
The seam goes down.
It's cool that someone found the USB plug-in so annoying they redesigned it! I bet this guy gets severe road rage and has an incredibly clean house. Obsessive compulsive much?
I would buy this if it was priced VERY close to a normal USB cable. I like everyone else have had my share of annoying moments plugging in USB.
..Geez, whats next, Esata? how about HDMI?