By Alphonsus E.W
USB cable developers have announced that a forthcoming version of the connector’s plug is to be reversible.
It means users of the Universal Serial Bus Cables will no longer have to worry which way round the part is facing when plugging it into a device.
The specification is due to be completed by mid-2014, and the first product on the market by 2016.
It will neuter one of the advantages Apple’s proprietary lightning cable currently has over the USB system.
The first USB Cable were released in 1996 and, until now, could only be plugged into a computer or other device one way to ensure that data connection is established.
The Promoter Group, which agrees the design of the standard, is currently made up of representatives from Intel, HP, Microsoft, Renesas Electronics, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments.
USB Type-C will be roughly the same size as a micro-USB connector, seen on the left. Other changes expected to be effected on the current version include: a smaller size, giving the full-size USB Type-C plug similar dimensions to the micro-USB format used by many tablets and smartphones, support for scalable power charging, allowing the cable to offer up to 100 watts data speed transfers of up to 10 Gbps, double what is possible at the moment. There is also a promise that the new design will accommodate further upgrades.
