Technology:History of USB

The History of the USB Drive

The USB flash drive is one of the most useful storage devices ever created. It gave people an easy way to carry and transfer digital files long before cloud storage became common.

Why was it created

The invention of the USB flash drive is usually credited to Dov Moran and his team at the Israeli company M-Systems. Moran came up with the idea in the late 1990s after having trouble accessing an important presentation while traveling.

Dov Moran

At the time, people mainly used floppy disks, CDs, and Zip drives to store information. These technologies worked, but they had major limitations and were often inconvenient to use.

Floppy disks could hold only a small amount of data and were easily damaged. CDs stored more information, but updating files was not always simple. Moran believed there had to be a better solution.

His team combined flash memory technology with the USB connection that was becoming standard on computers. Their work led to the release of the DiskOnKey in 2000, one of the first commercially successful USB flash drives.

The DiskonKey 

The Impact

The invention quickly changed the way people stored information. Instead of carrying multiple disks, users could keep large amounts of data on a single device that fit in their pocket.

For students, USB drives made it easier to transport assignments between home and school. Businesses used them to move reports, presentations, and important documents from one location to another.

The USB drive also changed communication. Before online storage services became popular, sharing large files could be difficult because email systems often had attachment limits.

A USB drive provided a simple alternative. People could quickly exchange files by plugging the device into another computer and copying the information.

Another reason for the success of USB drives was durability. Unlike many older storage devices, they did not contain moving parts and were less likely to be damaged during everyday use.

Storage capacity improved significantly over time. Early USB drives held only a few megabytes of data, while modern versions can store hundreds of gigabytes or even several terabytes.

The drawbacks

Despite their advantages, USB drives have also created challenges. Because they are small, they can easily be lost or stolen, creating potential security risks when sensitive information is stored on them.

USB drives have also been used to spread malware and computer viruses. 

An infected device can transfer harmful software from one computer to another when plugged into a USB port.

The current state

 
Today, cloud storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive have reduced the need for physical storage devices. Even so, USB drives continue to be useful when internet access is unavailable or when files need to be transferred quickly.

The USB flash drive is an example of how a simple invention can have a lasting impact. By solving the problem of portable digital storage, Dov Moran and his team created a technology that changed the way people store, share, and communicate information around the world.

AI DISCLAIMER: I asked Microsoft copilot to do research on the history of the USB drive. From the researched, I prompted the AI to write a blog post of 500 to 600 words. I told it to keep the tone professional, not academic, and write it in shorter journalism-style paragraphs. I added links to source material. After the AI's first attempt, I asked it to redo the presentation in a more chronological order. After that, I add subheadings and images to give the post a more polished look.

Where are the anti-war voice?

Sites like ANTIWAR and The American Conservative surprised me with so much antiwar as most mainstream media ignores what's going on worldwide or supports United States vicious actions against other countries. 

 It's very alarming how I have never heard of either of these sites. I feel like it's part of the propaganda of our government that these types of sites aren’t as advertised or pushed. 

It also shows that companies get more attention in profit when talking about the things that get a reaction than spreading a peaceful agenda.

 

The current President who use to preach about keeping the boys home has dragged America into a War that we should not be in and it is only making the economy worse. 

Protest outside of Time square after May 1st  

The lack of news about the financial damages, human lives lost, and wasting of American tax payers money is never talked about.

 The government does not own social media however it has the power to threaten and influence companies decisions.

The government  likely uses threats to keeps the truth from being as popular or being recommended.

 Leaving it to these separate smaller companies to publish to minority or truthful voices of United states military operations.

It is clear that the reason sites against war are not seen is because the government is trying to control. The less the people know the better. 

The government most likely initially makes its a priority to have more media attention on things that push the  narrative that they want or hide their hidden agendas with nonsense.

Overall, after being shown these two news sources, I am questioning how information is presented to the public and why certain perspectives receive more attention than others.

 It seems that many important discussions about war and consequences are overlooked by larger media outlets.

 As a result, people may not always receive a complete picture of what is happening, making it harder to form informed opinions on these issues and making them more gullible.

 

Privacy

Privacy is something that is basically non-existent. Throughout  the lecture in class I learned about the contracts of adhesion and how many companies can sell personal data and the users have no right to stop it. Many people quickly agree to terms without realizing what information they are giving away. After watching the TED Talk by Catherine Crump, I learned how much the government keeps tabs on us and how easily information can be collected.

Catherine Crump

This directly affects my friends and family because most people are not aware of the things they sign or are careful about how they use the internet. I have devices such as my phone and car that are constantly being tracked, and my media builds data profiles on me over time. Also owning an Alexa, I try to keep it unplugged when I’m not using it.  However my mom may forget to or not think about it. That shows how easy it is for privacy concerns to be overlooked in everyday life.

Juan Enriquez

In the TED Talk with Juan Enriquez, he talks about the threat of immortality because so much information about your personal life will be on the internet. Taking pictures and constantly posting your life can help people build profiles on you and create a record of your actions for years to come. Even small details shared online can remain accessible long into the future.

The government should not have the ability to store personal information of people who are not under investigation or have warrants. There should be stricter laws on companies that use personal information and more transparency about how that information is collected and shared. Apps, especially free ones that kids can easily access, such as social media and games, should have clear descriptions of legal terms that aren't hidden under pages of words. This would help people make more informed decisions before agreeing to them.

 AI DISCLAIMER: There was no Ai used in this blog

Eight Values of Free Expression

One of the Eight values of Free Expression I personally resonate with is the fourth, Individual Self-fulfilment by C. Edwin Baker. It states "Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy." 

Learning about the first Amendments and studying it with media content has taught me how important that we most have the right to be individual. If one was to study history you'd see the lack of the principle allows terrible things to happen. Humans need identities outside of what social labels them.

Edwin Baker

I feel like happiness in a person’s life comes from their own ideology and how they build themselves and express themselves. The quality of life since humans stopped being so controlled by their rulers is what made the quality of life better.

On Liberty

Another source I found to help aide my opinion is Mill, John Stuart in philosophical essay On Liberty (1859) talks about the freedoms humans need from the government in order to have self fulfillment. 

 This is quite literally the idea of Individual Self-fulfilment, and to take a step forward I’d say that life is a perfect reflection of that as we are far from what the world was in 1859 but still not completely different issues.

Free Expression is also a huge part of social media and entertainment. As an artist I benefit so much from being able to see other people's ways of creating ideas, art, games, shows, and even some personally inspired me and the person I am. The freedom of TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and many other socials allow me to learn and be motived. I one day want to have my own game or animation series myself. 

 

A problem I see in the world is when free expression is when leaders are in a higher power. For instance our President mocking the 44th President Obama and the Former First Lady or the many other wrong things he has said. But just as he has the power of his own expression the press and people can express just as much. 

This is why free expression can sometimes be a difficult value to accept because people will say things we disagree with or find offensive. Protecting that freedom means accepting that different viewpoints will exist. Public discussion is often the way to challenge those ideas instead of silencing them.

Another reason I value Individual Self-fulfilment is because every person has a different story, background, and perspective on life. The ability to share those experiences openly helps society become more understanding and creative. Many of the games, movies, books, and forms of art that people enjoy today exist because someone was free to express an idea that was unique to them. As a Game Design student I see creativity grow when people are allowed to think and share their work. If people feared expressing themselves many great ideas would never appear. Free Expression lets people discover who they are connect with others and contribute something to the world around them.

Supreme Court Reflection

The U.S Supreme Court is most powerful court on earth

Before watching this documentary, I knew the Supreme Court was an important part of the government, but I did not realize how much influence it has. The video described it as one of the most powerful institutions in the country because it can decide whether government actions follow the Constitution.

One thing I learned is that the Court is made up of only nine justices who interpret a Constitution that is more than 200 years old. Their decisions can determine what the government can and cannot do, which gives the Court a major role in American life.

The most surprising thing I learned was how few people have actually served on the Court. Throughout American history, only about 100 justices have held these positions. What surprised me even more was that most of them served at least 16 years, and many stayed much longer.

I was also surprised by how selective the Court is when choosing cases. The Supreme Court receives about 7,000 cases each year but only hears around 100. I thought it would review far more cases than that.

Another interesting part of the documentary was the traditions followed by the justices. They meet weekly, begin meetings by shaking hands, and are ranked by seniority. Even the newest justice has specific duties and responsibilities.

John Marshall

The video explained that the Court cannot simply choose issues on its own. People must bring their disputes to the Court, and cases are heard in public through oral arguments. Afterward, the justices meet privately, discuss the case, and work on written opinions that can take weeks or even months to complete.

I also learned about the influence of Chief Justice John Marshall and how many of his ideas still shape the Court today. The documentary discussed the Dred Scott decision as one of the greatest stains on the Court's history and showed how the Court's reputation has changed over time.

My biggest takeaway is that the Supreme Court depends on both the Constitution and the trust of the American people. The documentary suggested that if either one disappeared, the entire system could begin to break down. Watching this video gave me a greater appreciation for how much responsibility rests with just nine justices.

AI DISCLAIMER: This was a collaboration using Microsoft Copilot. I took detailed notes on 20 minute video with the U.S Supreme Court. I made sure to emphasis my opinions and reactions and than ask Copilot to improve my notes and check for grammar. I made sure to tell Copilot not to use any other sources of information and to write in blog format.

My Top 5 News Sources

As an artist and game designer, I’m always interested in the way people create, share, and experience information. Whether it’s through social media, sports, entertainment, or traditional news, I like keeping up with what’s happening around me and finding stories that connect to my interests.             

                                             1.Instagram

 Instagram
                                                               

My top site to get information is via Instagram users that I follow. I would recommend Instagram because it is very easy to access and lacks the filters and restrictions of TikTok so more content can be shown including sites and sources from creators posting. However its base use is for social interaction and entertainment so I take most things with a grain of salt. The amount of things I have learned or been updated on Ig has been very useful so it has to be my top source.

                                          2.TikTok

 TikTok

Honestly I probably get most of my world changing news from TikTok in my feed such as sports changes, deaths, climate change, and extreme court cases. I personally follow a lot of animal preserves creators to see updates on endangered animals. Sometimes I catch myself looking at all the things ICE is currently doing because actual news stations refuse to publish the real wrong doing. I recommend TikTok because it can sometimes be some of the best information from a personal source.

                                        3.ESPN

                                                           

ESPN

When I hear or watch anything about sports it's always ESPN. It's a great place to get usually credible sources on big moves that teams, franchises, and players are making. I recently was using it a lot more over the past few NBA seasons. This is a great way for a sports fan to stay in tune with anything going on in their favorite franchises.

                                    4.New York Times

   New York Times

Another source of news I use is the New York Times. As a New Yorker I always saw my grandad read the paper after work. I had to use it many times throughout my life in school. Now as a game designer, I enjoy reading about technology, gaming, and the new things happening in the entertainment industry. I also read about arts and culture, especially things about movies and books. It's a great way to inform yourself on different things out in the world.

                                    5.Fox New

                                                              Fox News

Fox is the only News channel I ever watch if I was to put cable on. It can be useful for little updates and weather. I mostly used to watch it growing up but sometimes they have some interesting things. For daily watch and weather updates fox is pretty good.