Created in 1996, the Universal Serial Bus or USB quickly became the preferred technology for computer peripherals. With the introduction of USB 2.0 in April 2000, computer users rejoiced that their go totechnology had become even faster and easier to use. And now with USB 3.0 products becoming more prevalent, consumers are excited to see what enhancements have been made to the tried and true technology. Here’s what you need to know about how USB 3.0 is different from USB 2.0, and why it matters.

USB 3.0 is 10 Times Faster than its 2.0 Predecessor
The main benefit to USB 3.0 technology is that it is approximately 10 times faster than USB 2.0 technology. And while this increase in speed may be virtually unnoticeable in some products, like your USB 3.0 keyboard, there are certain types of peripherals that will showcase the speed upgrade, namely portable and external hard drives.

Consider this: If you’re backing up a large music or image collection, or you’re creating a copy of your video files, transferring these files via USB 3.0 will take much less time than performing the transfer via USB 2.0. USB 3.0 is able to transmit nearly 5 Gbps, whereas USB 2.0 is capable of transmitting 480mbps of data.  Because of its much faster speed, a backup that may have taken a USB 2.0 drive more than 15 minutes in the past can now be completed in just over 1 minute on a USB 3.0 drive.

USB 3.0 Ads Additional Functionality but Stays Backward Compatible
Though the wiring that goes into the USB 3.0 cables is different than USB 2.0 wiring, the plug that connects to the USB outlet remains standard, providing full physical and functional backward capability. This means that your newly purchased portable USB 3.0 hard drive will work just fine with your older laptop that only has USB 2.0 ports. However, in situations like this, the USB 3.0 product will perform at the same level as a USB 2.0 product, so speed and power benefits will not be fully realized.

In the computer world, it’s common knowledge that your system is only as fast as its slowest component, and this certainly holds true when talking about USB 3.0. In order to reap the greatest benefits in speed, your receiving device will need to be able to function as quickly as the USB 3.0 device sending the data. For example, if you’re using a USB 3.0 external desktop hard drive to back up data to a machine with a magnetic hard drive that writes data at 7200 RPM, the process will be slowed considerably. However, if you’re backing up that same data to a solid state device like a flash drive, you’ll likely be pleased and impressed with the speed of the transfer.

USB 3.0 Allows for Bi-Directional Data Transfers
Another difference between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 comes in the form of its signaling method—USB 2.0 uses a polling mechanism where USB 3.0 uses an asynchronous mechanism. In layman’s language, this means that USB 3.0 is capable of simultaneously sending and receiving data, while USB 2.0 can only handle only one direction of data at any time. This particular difference is likely to be the most noticeable in cases involving transferring data between USB hard drives, as bi-direction data support isn’t an issue in less complex USB devices like the standard computer mouse.

USB 3.0 Includes Power Management Improvements
Enhanced power management is also available in USB 3.0, making these devices more efficient and less costly to operate than similar USB 2.0 devices. Using about 1/3 of the power necessary for a USB 2.0 device, USB 3.0 devices are built to shift into a lower power state when not being actively used by the device. Additionally, USB 3.0 technology has a higher energy capacity, allowing the technology to power more devices from one hub and to effectively handle hardware with more robust power needs.

— About the Author —

Dan Coppen is a business technology writer. Follow him at @dancoppen for more tech insights.

Tablet PCs have changed the way we view computers. Instead of having to tote around a bulky laptop, it’s now possible to enjoy all of the laptop’s functionality in a wafer-thin computer that fits easily in a purse or the side pocket of a briefcase. Yet despite all of the benefits that come along with having a smaller computer, some may question how functional such a machine really is when it comes to providing easy access to online education.

According to a paper presented at the 25th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning, Penn State University set out to study the affect that tablet computing technology had on online mathematics courses. The results were mixed, with tablets, and their PC counterparts, presenting problems related to the rendering of mathematical symbols. This is because most are geared specifically towards the written word, meaning that students of online courses related to mathematics should be particular careful when selecting a tablet PC.

Although tablets may pose problems for math and science students, they can be a great alternative for many other students and even faculty members. An study published in the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology points out the ease of use that is inherent in tablet PCs has the ability to make faculty interaction with students much more fluid. When the faculties the of science and engineering departments at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology tested using tablets in an educational capacity they found their computer usage skyrocketed and e-mails were answered more promptly. Similarly, the teachers speculated that tablet PC usage by students would lead to enhance instructor-student interaction and would improve students’ note taking ability, as the would be able to handwrite notes rather than rely on the sometimes faulty input of typing.

Ultimately, it seems that tablet PCs will become an essential element of class design, be it a traditional or online class. While more research is needed to further understand the importance of tablet PCs and their impact on online classroom learning, it is possible to speculate that their portability, ease of use and versatility will lead to enhanced student-faculty interactions and increased understanding of subject matter.

==== About the Author ====

Lindsey Wright is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly the online school, to transform the landscape of learning. She writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education.