| The Universal Serial Bus (USB) was first launched | | | | and peripherals spotlighted the limitations of the |
| in 1996 by a group of IT Companies known as | | | | original version of USB. USB 1.1 was not able to |
| the USB Promoter Group. | | | | fully support the speeds needed to run gadgets |
| This first version was known as USB 1.1 and was | | | | like digital movie or video players, mobile phones, |
| a standardized serial connection that aimed to | | | | video phones, Web cameras, digital cameras, |
| provide a replacement for parallel and serial ports. | | | | MP3s or digital music players, PDAs and Palmtops. |
| Intended for mid-speed and slow computer | | | | When USB 2.0 version debuted, with 40 times the |
| peripherals, it created an intelligent serial bus. | | | | speed of the previous version, it offered the |
| In the early years, many people utilized USB on | | | | capacity to operate most of the newly released |
| their own computers and it proved to work well | | | | technologies. |
| for most applications. In recent years, however, | | | | One of the most important features of USB 2.0 is |
| USB 1.1 has proved to be too limited. While USB | | | | that it is backward compatible. In other words, |
| 1.1 managed to remain useful to more modern | | | | USB 2.0 hardware can be plugged to computer's |
| technologies, some loopholes in the initial version | | | | old USB 1.1 port and will function properly because |
| were pointed as the source of major problems. | | | | both versions use same plug. USB 2.0 can |
| USB 1.1 was limited with a slower transference | | | | transmit data at speeds between 1.5 megabits to |
| rate of only 12-megabits/ sec. During the rise of | | | | 480 megabits per second, but if USB 2.0 |
| the USB 1.1 in the market, the Institute of | | | | hardware is connected to a USB 1.1 port it will not |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE) unveiled | | | | attempt to transmit data at its maximum speed |
| the FireWire, also called i.LINK(tm), which had a | | | | of 480 megabits per second. Rather, it will slow |
| transfer speed of 400 blazing megabytes per | | | | it's rate of transmission in order to operate |
| second, then considered a fantastic rate of | | | | properly and compatibly with the older hardware. |
| transfer. This transfer speed made the uploading | | | | Upgrading a computer to include USB 2.0 ports |
| of a full motion video from a camcorder | | | | into a computer is a simple procedure. When USB |
| convenient. It threatened to push USB 1.1 out of | | | | 2.0 ports are added with a PCI port card, the |
| the market, as it was not able to compete with | | | | original USB 1.1 ports are retained and will continue |
| this newcomer. | | | | to function normally. |
| The creation of increasingly sophisticated gadgets | | | | |