The USB paradox is one of the most familiar experiences of the digital age. Every time you try to plug in a USB cord, it seems like you always get it wrong on the first try. It doesn't matter how much attention you pay to the plug or the cord or the icons on the cord. It's always wrong.
And there's a good reason for that! In an interview published Thursday by DesignNews, Intel's Ajay Bhatt spoke at length about why the ubiquitous technology has been so infuriating for so long. Bhatt was a member of the team that developed USB technology. Even at the start of development, they knew that making the connector flippable would be a better user experience in the long run. But doing so would require twice the wiring and more circuitry, which would increase costs.
"If you have a lot of cost up front for an unproven technology it might not take off. So that was our fear. You have to be really cost conscious when you start out," Bhatt said.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 03 2017, @03:55PM
Indeed, the only thing that I don't get here is why the cables and ports aren't better labeled. The USB icon is usually on the same side of the jack, but since it's molded into the plastic in the same color, it can be hard to see. On the jack side, the icon should be on the same side as the icon on the cable.
Unfortunately, some cables don't have the icon and even when they do they tend to be molded on in the same color which makes it hard to see. Being able to feel it and have it more visually obvious would make this much less of an issue.