USB flash drive: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:11, 10 February 2025

USB Flash Drive

A USB flash drive is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is typically removable, rewritable, and much smaller than an optical disc. Most weigh less than 30 grams (1 oz). Since their invention in the late 1990s, as of 2023, USB flash drives have largely replaced floppy disks and CDs for data storage and transfer.

USB flash drives are often used for the same purposes for which floppy disks or CDs were used, i.e., for storage, data back-up, and transfer of computer files. They are smaller, faster, have thousands of times more capacity, and are more durable and reliable because they have no moving parts.

History

The first USB flash drive was developed in 1998 by IBM, which sold it under the name "DiskOnKey". The device was manufactured by M-Systems, a company based in Israel. The first commercial USB flash drive was released in 2000 by Trek Technology and IBM, with a storage capacity of 8 MB.

Design and Functionality

USB flash drives consist of a small printed circuit board carrying the circuit elements and a USB connector, insulated electrically and protected inside a plastic, metal, or rubberized case. The drive is connected to the computer via the USB port, and it is powered by the computer's USB interface.

Storage Capacity

The storage capacity of USB flash drives has increased significantly over the years. Early models offered storage capacities of 8 MB, while modern drives can store up to 2 TB of data.

Speed

The speed of USB flash drives is determined by the USB version they support. USB 1.0 and 1.1 are the slowest, while USB 2.0 offers faster data transfer rates. USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 provide even higher speeds, with USB 3.1 offering up to 10 Gbps.

Uses

USB flash drives are used for:

Data storage and transfer
System administration
Application carriers
Booting operating systems

Security

Some USB flash drives offer encryption and password protection to secure data. This is particularly important for drives that store sensitive information.

Related Pages

References

"USB Flash Drive." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last visited October 2023.
"History of USB Flash Drives." Techopedia. Accessed October 2023.

Gallery

SanDisk Cruzer USB 4GB Thumb Drive
SanDisk Ultra Flair Flash Drive
Transcend JetFlash
1TB USB Flash Drive
USB Key Internals
MicroSD Flash Drive
Kingston DataTraveler Disassembled
USB Flash Drive
Sushi USB Drive
Key Shaped USB Drive
Custom USB Drives
Windows To Go USB Drive
Sony Walkman USB Drive
Wizo USB Stick
Ubuntu USB Lanyard
IBM Card Storage
Flash Drive vs. Floppy
8GB Media Comparison
USB 3.0 Flash Drive PCB

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''USB flash drive''' is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated [[Universal Serial Bus]] (USB) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than an optical disc. First introduced in the late 1990s, USB flash drives have since become an ubiquitous part of the technology landscape, serving a wide range of purposes for personal and professional use.
+== USB Flash Drive ==
-==History==
+A '''USB flash drive''' is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is typically removable, rewritable, and much smaller than an optical disc. Most weigh less than 30 grams (1 oz). Since their invention in the late 1990s, as of 2023, USB flash drives have largely replaced floppy disks and CDs for data storage and transfer.
-The development of the USB flash drive was influenced by several earlier storage and data transfer technologies. The concept of flash memory was derived from EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), which was invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka in the early 1980s while working for Toshiba. The first USB flash drive is generally credited to IBM and Trek Technology, who both introduced their versions to the market in 2000.
-==Design and Functionality==
+USB flash drives are often used for the same purposes for which floppy disks or CDs were used, i.e., for storage, data back-up, and transfer of computer files. They are smaller, faster, have thousands of times more capacity, and are more durable and reliable because they have no moving parts.
-A USB flash drive consists of a small printed circuit board encased in plastic, metal, or sometimes rubber, making it robust and less prone to damage. The USB connector may be protected by a removable cap or by retracting into the body of the drive, although it is not uncommon for smaller drives to be fitted directly onto a keychain or lanyard.
-Flash drives utilize the USB standard to interface with computers or other devices. When a drive is inserted into a USB port, the host device's operating system recognizes it as a removable storage device and assigns it a drive letter. Data can then be transferred between the host device and the flash drive using a file manager.
+== History ==
-==Capacity and Performance==
+The first USB flash drive was developed in 1998 by IBM, which sold it under the name "DiskOnKey". The device was manufactured by M-Systems, a company based in Israel. The first commercial USB flash drive was released in 2000 by Trek Technology and IBM, with a storage capacity of 8 MB.
-The storage capacity of USB flash drives has increased significantly since their introduction, from initial sizes of 8 MB to modern drives that can hold several terabytes of data. The performance of a USB flash drive is determined by its data transfer speed, which is affected by the USB version it supports (e.g., USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1), as well as its own read-write speed.
-==Uses==
+== Design and Functionality ==
-USB flash drives are used for a variety of purposes, including personal data transport, secure storage of sensitive information, system administration for updating computer firmware or booting operating systems, and as a means of distributing promotional material.
-==Security==
+USB flash drives consist of a small printed circuit board carrying the circuit elements and a USB connector, insulated electrically and protected inside a plastic, metal, or rubberized case. The drive is connected to the computer via the USB port, and it is powered by the computer's USB interface.
-Security concerns with USB flash drives pertain to both the physical loss of the device and the potential for malicious software to be carried on the device. To mitigate these risks, some flash drives offer hardware encryption, while software solutions can also provide password protection and data encryption to secure the data on the drive.
-==Environmental Impact==
+=== Storage Capacity ===
-The production and disposal of USB flash drives pose environmental challenges, similar to other electronic devices. The materials used in their manufacture, including plastics and metals, require energy to produce and can be difficult to recycle. Efforts to reduce the environmental impact of USB flash drives include designing them with recyclable materials and promoting responsible disposal practices.
-==Future Developments==
+The storage capacity of USB flash drives has increased significantly over the years. Early models offered storage capacities of 8 MB, while modern drives can store up to 2 TB of data.
-The future of USB flash drives may see them being superseded by cloud storage and other forms of wireless data transfer technologies. However, their convenience, portability, and ease of use ensure that they remain popular for a variety of applications.
-[[Category:Computer storage devices]]
+=== Speed ===
-[[Category:USB]]
-{{Comp-sci-stub}}
+The speed of USB flash drives is determined by the USB version they support. USB 1.0 and 1.1 are the slowest, while USB 2.0 offers faster data transfer rates. USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 provide even higher speeds, with USB 3.1 offering up to 10 Gbps.
+== Uses ==
+USB flash drives are used for:
+* Data storage and transfer
+* System administration
+* Application carriers
+* Booting operating systems
+== Security ==
+Some USB flash drives offer encryption and password protection to secure data. This is particularly important for drives that store sensitive information.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[USB]]
+* [[Flash memory]]
+* [[Solid-state drive]]
+* [[Data storage device]]
+== References ==
+* "USB Flash Drive." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last visited October 2023.
+* "History of USB Flash Drives." Techopedia. Accessed October 2023.
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:SanDisk-Cruzer-USB-4GB-ThumbDrive.jpg|SanDisk Cruzer USB 4GB Thumb Drive
+File:SanDisk_Ultra_Flair_flash_drive.jpg|SanDisk Ultra Flair Flash Drive
+File:Transcend_JetFlash_by_Augustas_Didzgalvis.jpg|Transcend JetFlash
+File:USB_flash_drive,_1TB.jpg|1TB USB Flash Drive
+File:Usbkey_internals.jpg|USB Key Internals
+File:MicroSDFDrive.JPG|MicroSD Flash Drive
+File:Kingston_DataTraveler_flash_drive_disassembled.jpg|Kingston DataTraveler Disassembled
+File:USB_flash_drive2.jpg|USB Flash Drive
+File:sushiusb.jpg|Sushi USB Drive
+File:Pendrive_Shape_of_key.JPG|Key Shaped USB Drive
+File:Custom_USB_Drives.JPG|Custom USB Drives
+File:Windows_To_Go_USB_Drive.png|Windows To Go USB Drive
+File:Sony_Walkman_NWZ-B183.jpg|Sony Walkman USB Drive
+File:Wizo_USB_Stick.jpg|Wizo USB Stick
+File:Ubuntu_USB_lanyard.jpg|Ubuntu USB Lanyard
+File:IBM_card_storage.NARA.jpg|IBM Card Storage
+File:Flash_Drive_v._Floppy.jpg|Flash Drive vs. Floppy
+File:8GB_media_comparison.jpg|8GB Media Comparison
+File:USB_3.0_Flash_Drive_PCB.jpg|USB 3.0 Flash Drive PCB
+</gallery>
+[[Category:Data storage devices]]