Why is THIS The USB Logo?

Summary

This video explores the origins and meanings behind various tech symbols. The Bluetooth logo, inspired by the Nordic runes for 'H' and 'B', commemorates King Harold Bluetooth who united Denmark and Norway. The USB logo, often likened to Poseidon's trident, represents connectivity and versatility across devices. The hard drive activity light's cylindrical symbol harks back to the mechanical drives of old, indicating drive operation. Lastly, the power symbol, a blend of 'off' and 'on', has roots in binary code and was standardized to represent standby mode and power.

Takeaways

• 🌩️ The Thunderbolt symbol is self-explanatory and represents the power of lightning.
• 🔵 The Bluetooth logo is inspired by the Nordic runes for 'H' and 'B', honoring King Harold Bluetooth who unified Denmark and Norway.
• 👑 King Harold Bluetooth was known for his bad tooth, which was dark bluish, possibly the origin of his name.
• 🔌 The USB logo might be inspired by Poseidon's trident, symbolizing the ability to connect many devices with one port, though this is more myth than fact.
• 💻 The USB logo also represents a PC with a large circle on the left and various peripherals with smaller shapes on the right.
• 🔄 The hard drive activity light's cylindrical shape is a throwback to the mechanical hard drives with multiple stacked platters.
• 💡 The power logo is a combination of a circle (off) and a vertical line (on), dating back to binary code and standardized in the 1970s.
• 🛠️ Modern SSDs are faster and have no moving parts, making the drive activity light less common but still present on some systems.
• 🔗 The video also discusses the evolution and standardization of USB naming conventions, which will be explained in a dedicated video.

Q & A

What is the origin of the Thunderbolt symbol?

The Thunderbolt symbol is self-explanatory, representing the visual of a lightning bolt during a storm.

Why is the Bluetooth logo designed the way it is?

The Bluetooth logo is a combination of Nordic runes for 'H' and 'B' to honor King Harold Bluetooth, who was known for uniting Denmark and Norway, symbolizing the unification of wireless devices.

What is the popular hypothesis regarding the origin of the USB logo?

There's a popular hypothesis that the USB logo is inspired by Poseidon's trident, symbolizing the ability to connect to many devices with a single port, although this is not confirmed.

What does the USB logo represent in terms of its design?

The USB logo's large circle on the left represents a PC, while the smaller shapes on the right symbolize various peripherals, indicating versatility in connectivity.

Why does the hard drive activity light resemble a cylinder?

The hard drive activity light's cylindrical shape is derived from older mechanical hard drives with stacked platters, indicating that the drive is busy and operational.

How has the utility of the hard drive activity light changed with the advent of SSDs?

The hard drive activity light is less common with modern SSDs due to their faster speeds and lack of moving parts, reducing the need for an indicator of busy status.

What is the meaning behind the power logo?

The power logo is a combination of a circle (indicating off) and a vertical line (indicating on), inspired by binary code and standardized to represent standby mode or power.

Who is the sponsor mentioned in the video script?

The sponsor mentioned in the video script is ODU, which offers a platform for building websites with user-friendly design elements and AI copywriting.

What is the significance of the Bluetooth king's name in the context of the Bluetooth technology?

The Bluetooth king's name is significant as it symbolizes the unification of wireless devices, just as he united parts of Scandinavia.

What is the purpose of the USB logo variations?

USB logo variations indicate the generation and speed of the USB port, providing users with information about the capabilities of the port.