USB Flash Drive
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
posted by --Covintre 15:02, 3 July 2007 (EDT)
Contents |
USB Flash drive defined
USB Flash Drives are small portable storage devices which connect directly into a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port in a computer. Flash Drives go by a variety of names including "Thumb Drive," "Pen Drive," "Memory Stick," and "Jump Drive," but all of these define the same item. For the purpose of this entry, the term Flash Drive will be used, and capitalized for ease of recognition.There are various companies who make Flash Drives including (but not limited to) SanDisk, Imation, Kingston, and Verbatim.
Size and Storage
USB Flash Drives are often the size of an adult thumb (hence the name "thumb drive"), but have also been placed into bracelet and other promotional designs. In general however, their appeal in their small and portable size. They can often be attached to lanyards or keyrings for easy storage.
Flash Drive storage can range. USB Flash Drives are available in storage sizes of 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB. Computer developers continue to make Flash Drives capable of storing more and more data. Many companies have Flash Drives with a 8GB capacity. This may be more than many students or teachers would need in a school year as a 2GB Flash Drive, for example, can hold has much as the first generation iPod Nano, (about 650 songs) though a Flash Drive is not limited to music and movies.
Compatibility
Flash Drives can store various types of data including images as well as documents. Some Flash Drives are also able to store mp3's and movies. USB Flash Drives are compatible with most Mac, Windows, and even Linux operating systems. To be sure, it is important to check the packaging to see what a Flash Drive supports. The main requirement of a computer system is access to the USB port. Flash Drives currently are based in USB 2.0 models. Some computers have USB ports that are actually USB 1.1. USB 2.0 Flash Drives should still work in this environment, but may be slower, that if it was a 2.0 match. There are drives available to allow for older technology to become compatible.
USB Flash Drives in a school community
Teachers & Administrators:
For floating teachers, having lessons and grades backed-up on a USB drive can allow teachers to access their documents from any classroom. Unlike CD-Roms, Flash Drives can be written and rewritten, and can hold more data than a CD. Flash Drives also make it possible to transfer school files from home to work on without difficulty. In addition, since data in a Flash Drive can be read on various operating systems, a Flash Drive can make it possible to maintain a PC environment at home and Mac environment at work, or vice versa.
Due to their ease in portability, Flash Drives can also be used as a way to encourage collaboration. Certain lessons could be maintained on a drive and this drive could be transferred to various teachers working on a major document or lesson plan. A department could have a flash drive for each course offered. Lessons for that course (say Chem 1 or Brit Lit) could them be added and expanded as each teacher views and reviews that Flash Drive.
USB Flash Drives are also a publicity opportunity. A school could order a mass quantity of USB Flash Drives custom printed with the school logo on them to distribute to their faculty as a gift or thank you. These could also be used as incentives for students or sold at the school book shop. Cost for these items begin around $10.00/student, but if sold, this could prove profitable for the school or a specific school organization.
Students
Many students in middle and upper schools already use USB Flash Drives to help transfer data from school to home. USB Flash Drives can easily store a power point presentation, making saving computer space easier for all. Because Flash Drives are small, they are easy to lose and misplace. It is important to remind students to put their name on their Drivers, in case they leave them in a public location.
Library Teachers
Many school library's have computer's included in their space. To make the most of Flash Drives, library teachers can do several things.
- Make sure students can access the USB ports on the library computers. Earlier computer models did not have ports in the front of the computers, but in the back. If computers are in corrals or the backs are not easy to access, students will do one of two things: shift the computers (possibly exposing or unplugging wiring) or move to another location. One relatively inexpensive solution is to purchase an A/A cable that will allow one to move the rear ports to the front of the computer via the cable. Simply lable these as "USB ports." A school's tech department may even have these cables laying around and available for use.
- Encourage ownership. Remind students with USB Flash drives to put their names on these. While costs for these items continue to go down, this is not an item one wants to lose. Like floppy disks, Flash Drives will get abandoned. They can be reclaimed if a library teacher knows who the Flash Drive belongs to.
- Stock and sell. As mentioned in the "Teachers and Administrators" section, USB Flash Drives can be a publicity opportunity. If a library budget permits, purchase USB Flash Drives with the name of the school library or and "@ your library" slogan. These USB Flash Drives could come with library promotional material already on them, perhaps a list of databases or a list of recent aquisitions. These then be sold to students on an as needed basis or given to students during a library promotion like "Most Books Read."
Questions I still had
answers to my questions were primarily found at USB Flash Drive FAQ
My question: What is the difference between a Flash Drive and a smart drive?
Answer In 2005, development of the "smart drive" came into existence. The same size as Flash Drives, "smart" drives not only store data but also come pre-equipped with certain software like Skype or Firefox. Smart drives allow users to bring certain programs with them when using public or shared computers. They also allow programs that could take up a large amount of space to remain external. For more information read this article from internetnews.com.
My question: How does a Flash Drive compare to other computer storage devices?
Answer: Because of the storage space, a Flash Drive can replace both CD-Roms, floppy disks, and zip drives. For an excellent comparison, review USB Flash Drive Vs. Note: For major storage of an entire hard drive, the purchase of several flash drives may not be a cost effective as one external hard drive.
My question: How long will information saved on a USB Flash Drive be available to me?
Answer: According to USB Flash Drive FAQ, data stored on a USB Flash Drive should last for ten (10) years, which is longer than many computers.
