USB ports
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, an industry standard for short-distance digital data communications. USB allows data to be transferred between devices.
A USB port is a standard cable connection interface on personal computers and consumer electronics that allow stand-alone electronic devices to be connected via cables to a computer (or to each other). USB ports can also supply electric power across the cable to devices without their own power source.
Many types of consumer electronics support USB interfaces. These types of equipment are most commonly used for computer networking:
- USB network adapters
- USB broadband and cellular modems for Internet access
- USB printers to be shared on a home network
For computer-to-computer file transfers without a network, USB keys are also sometimes used to copy files between devices.
USB Hub
USB hubs allow multiple USB devices to be connected to each other. A USB hub plugs into one USB port and contains additional ports for other devices to connect subsequently.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless technology (using short wavelength radio transmissions) for transmission of voice and data over a short distance from fixed and mobile devices. It allows you to create personal area networks with high levels of security.
Originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables, it was created by Telecoms vendor Ericsson in 1994 and can connect several devices overcoming problems of synchronisation.