5 ms·

Back when we had different connectors for different things, we knew one thing: if it fit, it worked. But the proliferation of incompatible connectors, driven by

by gengkev 10y ago

Back when we had different connectors for different things, we knew one thing: if it fit, it worked. But the proliferation of incompatible connectors, driven by the advancement of technology, meant that nothing fit! So we created one connector to rule them all: USB-C. Now everything fits, but nothing works.

mycall 10y ago
I say establish matched color coded ends for both the cables and rings around the plug ports.
- mattnewton 10y ago
  I think that's too subtle for many consumers and it has been hard for manufacturers to stick to that, especially when selling cords in specific shades of colors is good product differentiation.
  - lmm 10y ago
    It worked for PS/2 keyboards and mice. When Microsoft first introduced PC'97 everyone mocked it, saying that even if the computer had coloured ports you never had a coloured keyboard and mouse or vice versa - but eventually after a few years the standard became established enough. And that standard relied on some truly nasty shades of purple and green.
sfoskett 10y ago
"Everything fits but nothing works" - I love that!
Anagmate 10y ago
This would probably be too hard & expensive to implement, but it seems as the most user-friendly solution: create connection protocol where both ends send all possible protocols they can work with (standard codes could probably be established) and the cable would include small chip & LED diode in both connectors - when you connect two devices, it would either light up green (both ends share at least one protocol) or red (incompatible). For example, I plug one end into my phone and the other one into my sound card - it the phone doesn't support external sound cards, the cable would light up red - otherwise, it would flash green for few seconds, then turn the light off. Another (maybe more practical solution) would be to implement this in both ports, but some vendors may not comply with the specification. (in the cable, you could only buy those cables that support the negotiation protocol - it would be your choice if you decide to pay a bit more for a better cable)

by gengkev 10y ago

mycall 10y ago

I say establish matched color coded ends for both the cables and rings around the plug ports.

mattnewton 10y ago
I think that's too subtle for many consumers and it has been hard for manufacturers to stick to that, especially when selling cords in specific shades of colors is good product differentiation.
- lmm 10y ago
  It worked for PS/2 keyboards and mice. When Microsoft first introduced PC'97 everyone mocked it, saying that even if the computer had coloured ports you never had a coloured keyboard and mouse or vice versa - but eventually after a few years the standard became established enough. And that standard relied on some truly nasty shades of purple and green.

sfoskett 10y ago

"Everything fits but nothing works" - I love that!

Anagmate 10y ago

This would probably be too hard & expensive to implement, but it seems as the most user-friendly solution: create connection protocol where both ends send all possible protocols they can work with (standard codes could probably be established) and the cable would include small chip & LED diode in both connectors - when you connect two devices, it would either light up green (both ends share at least one protocol) or red (incompatible). For example, I plug one end into my phone and the other one into my sound card - it the phone doesn't support external sound cards, the cable would light up red - otherwise, it would flash green for few seconds, then turn the light off. Another (maybe more practical solution) would be to implement this in both ports, but some vendors may not comply with the specification. (in the cable, you could only buy those cables that support the negotiation protocol - it would be your choice if you decide to pay a bit more for a better cable)