A Few Truly Cool USB Gizmos

USB – short for Universal Serial Bus – technology was first released on the market in 1995. It’s purpose was to provide a standardized way to connect a wide variety of devices to a computer. The benefit of USB over other forms of connection is that USB provides power to the device from the computer’s power supply, eliminating the need for batteries. The simplicity of design and low cost of USB technology have made it a powerhouse on the market, and today USB devices really are, as the name suggests, universal.

For the first decade or so, USB devices were almost entirely practical and functional, with very little that didn’t suit the core ‘computer geeks’ market. But over the past several years, USB devices have shed their practical image and given rise to a flood of truly cool USB gizmos. Check it out.

The USB Mug Warmer: Don’t think that mug warmers are only for not-a-morning-person type people. The average USB mug warmer is big enough to hold and keep toasty the kind of larger mug that people use for soup or oatmeal as well. Granted, high school computer teachers everywhere are in apoplexy over the idea of encouraging people to keep containers of liquid near their keyboards, but hey – we’re not in high school anymore, right?

The USB Can Fridge: The opposite of a mug warmer in many respects, the can fridge keeps a single can of soda (beer) cold enough that it will be perfectly drinkable no matter how long you forget about it — as long as you keep your computer on, of course. There’s nothing quite as gross as a warm soda (beer), so if you need that burst of liquid sugar (bread) to keep your focus (chill) late in the day, the USB Can Fridge and a source of soda (beer) is the solution you’re looking for.

The USB Massage Ball: After several levels gained in World of Warcraft, your clicking arm can get a little tired – and your lumbar back is probably a bit on the tense side from those PvP raids. The USB Massage Ball is the solution to your aches and pains – just turn it on, press the lovely little knobs against your back or your wrist, and in minutes, you’re good to go.

This is just a tiny sample of the kind of novelty USB items you can find online – check out thinkcutee.com for many, many more.