With the amount of USB powered items

[Cristatus]

You have USB kettles (water boilers, or whatever you call them), USB heated gloves, USB vacuums (or hoovers), USB rocket launchers, USB battery chargers.

Most of these have no interface to the computer, except that they use the power provided by the USB slot.

If every item that was low power anyways, like phone chargers et al, were designed with USB in the mind in the first place, then they could be used in any country. Think about that!

You wouldn't have to worry about adapters, and other items.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a USB trimmer/shaver!

 

[Ika]

There really aren't that many USB gadgets (in number, anyway, not variety), and electrical outlets are more efficient. I guess it isn't such a bad idea, though, and there's probably going to be a USB power hub coming sometime.

 

[tbike06]

Or we could just use regular power outlets.

 

[Phlargo]

That's a great idea... but they're pretty low powered. Maybe in next-gen houses, we'll have USB plugs around the house that'll connect to your server computer and allow you to not only charge the item, but save your pictures or automatically transfer files to a safe spot on your hard drive or something. But then.. we'll have wireless usb by that point, no doubt.

For power it sounds pretty good... But don't we already have little wall adapters?

Seems in some ways like sticking to one type of power plug makes more sense...

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Top 10 weirdest USB devices.

 

[Gibson486]

USB equals 500mA max. Also, USB is very ineffecient at large lengths, as it creates lots of source impedenace.

 

[Itchrelief]

The outcry from females forced to use USB powered hairdryers would force a quick retreat.

 

[kami333]

I like USB wall adapters for when I'm travelling since it helps cut dwn on my luggage a bit.

 

[Cristatus]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
USB equals 500mA max. Also, USB is very ineffecient at large lengths, as it creates lots of source impedenace.

Even for just electricity?

 

[mugs]

USB powered devices are just a gimmick.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
USB equals 500mA max. Also, USB is very ineffecient at large lengths, as it creates lots of source impedenace.

It wouldn't be hard to do the voltage adjustment within the receptacle, would it? So you have regular house wiring running to the box and then a USB "converter" inside the box.

I still think it's a bad idea.

 

[jfall]

cool site