LoTP Part III--What you can plug into a USB port--Michael Sauers

Michael Sauers, BCR, and a lot of books that I won't list here, covers the incredible gamut of what can be plugged into a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. (Allows 127 devices to be hooked up to a single computer, and power can be transferred from the computer to the device; designed to be hot-swapped)

Michael is running a contest: choose the item(s) on his list/notes that doesn't really exist.

Two types: USB 1.1 (12 Mbits/sec) and USB 2.0 (faster transmission, backward compatible with 1.1)

Some things to make USB even better:

1. Passive Extension Cables--available in various lengths--16 ft. length limitation; repeater/active extension cable overcomes the 16 ft. limitation (should you ever need it...)
2. USB Hubs (add more USB ports)
3. wireless USB hub
4. USB Server--allows you to connect a hub via Ethernet so USB devices are connected to a computer, rather than a computer

So, here we go...what can be plugged into a port? (This won't be nearly as much fun as seeing the pictures of all the fun stuff--like the thumb drive (in the shape of a thumb), the USB teddy bear drive...or all the instances of each of these below, but):

1. well, the extnsion cables and hubs
2. the usual peripherals--mouse (incl. mouse with laser pointer and thermometer), keyboards, numeric key pads, floppy drive, printer, scanner
3. storage card reader/writer (if you get one for library make sure it's reader writer)
4. external drives: hard drives, hard drive enclosure, external optical (CD, DVD) drives
5. flash drives
6. digital music players
7. video capture devices
8. fingerprint scanner
9. print servers
10. wireless presenter
11. smartphone

Well, you get the idea: just about anything can be plugged in. Why do librarians care? Because there are many that you can use to make your life or your patrons' lives easier, and/or you will see your patrons bringing this in to use on your computers.

OK, well a few more fun things: (or not??? Remember, one or more of these may not really exist...)

1. lava lamp, Christmas tree
2. microscope
3. Swiss Army Knife with flash drive
4. Skype phones, TV via Skype
5. Aquarium
6. humidifier, hand- and foot-warmers, air-conditioned shirt

Potential security risk? Yes (stress POTENTIAL) but security solutions:

1. Deep Freeze or Centurion Guard
2. Do not allow booting from the USB port (configure from BIOS...only allow boot from hard drive)
3. Password protect your BIOS
4. Separate the public computers from the library network
5. Run antivirus software (and keep it up to date)

Proper device removal--click on the safe device removal icon in the system tray, select the device and wait for the "safe to remove" message before unplugging

Check out: www.everythingusb.com