John Ndlovu
Information Communication and Technology(ICT) Reporter
Like a tree with its branches and roots, Information Technology (IT) has several enjoined aspects for flawless performances.
While the Data is the main reason behind IT, the subject of IT has proven its vastness over the years. Still Data remains the reason for the existence of IT.
Once an individual reaches for an electronic gadget such as a cell phone, laptop, tablet and a personal computer, they are transmitting data.
But how is this data transferred or stored in an electronic gadget?
In the IT world data transfer and it’s storage is of paramount significance.
Data comes in different simpler names or forms on gadgets such as images, videos, spreadsheets, documents and so forth, the same, data, thus, is stored in different ‘formats’ to conform to storage or transfer space.
Therefore, the components of transferring data from one gadget to another has evolved over the years with the first transfer and storage device being the floppy disk.
The floppy, as it was widely called was invented in 1971.
The floppy, become essential in storing data as well as transferring the same from one gadget to the next. At its peak, the floppy was on demand on daily basis as it was used to transfer, back up and store data in case of a computer crash.
Dating on to use of cloud storage and use of air drop as a way of sharing data which is used nowadays in the digital era.
In 1996 the Universal Serial Bus(USB) was developed and introduced as a way of easing communication between a computer and other peripheral devices. They have (USB drives) become the standard connection method for devices such as keyboards, game pads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, printers and external hard drives.
Bluetooth was then developed two years after, this technology used to enable short-range wireless communication between electronic devices. In 1998 Ericsson assembled a group of computer and electronics companies to bring out a technology that was aimed at freeing computers, phones, personal digital assistants. Bluetooth was introduced to mobile phones and desktop computers in 2000 and later distributed to and mobile computers in 2001. This necessitated sharing of information from one device to another and even establishment of Bluetooth headsets which had specifications of playing music and videos from devices.
Share-it, another sharing application was introduced in 2013 in enhancing transfer of information from one gadget to another at a faster rate.
Zim GBC News spoke to technology experts on the subject who stated that technology has made huge strides in quickening transfer of information from one gadget to another.
Raymond Ndlovu who is a technology enthusiast stated that networking has enhanced fast transfer of information and data from one device to another.
“As you can see in the past there were floppy disks, CDs, DVDs which were then replaced by Universal Serial Bus(USB) drives and then came Bluetooth which is quite slow in transfer of files especially bigger files from one device to another, air drop used by iphone users is one of the fastest and easiest ways of transferring data within gadgets as people can share information by just swiping their phones so networking has played an important role in the sharing of information.”Ndlovu said.
Brandon Sibanda who is a student told this publication that he prefers using Share-it for transferring and sharing information from device to another due to it’s speed of sharing data as compared to Bluetooth which is quite slower.
“I prefer using share-it when transferring my files and sharing them with others as it more faster as compared to Bluetooth.”Sibanda said.