How They Designed USB.

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↓ Transcript

Panel 1 of 3.

Narrator: Team A. Aesthetics.

A man stands with a pointer pointing to a drawing of a three-dimensional rectangular object resting on its side.

Man: It’s exactly the same from both sides.

Five audience members are present, with only the backs of their heads shown. Two are presumptively female and three are presumptively male.

Audience member 1 (counting left to right), presumptively female: Ah! Beauty, thy name is symmetry.

Audience member 4, presumptively female: Actually, USB.

Panel 2 of 3.

Narrator: Team B. Electrical.

Two men and one woman are seated at a curved table. In front of them, on the table, are two flat objects that might be tablet computers, and a very large book opened in half and resting flat on the table with its spine towards the bottom.

Man 1 is touching the large tablet computer in front of him.

The woman is touching a smaller tablet computer with one hand and gesturing with the other hand.

Man 1: Positive and negative charges must not mix.

Man 2 has his hands on the large book and appears to be pointing to a location in the text with his hands.

Man 2: Also, keep the AC and DC separate.

Man 1: Let’s make the plug go in only one way.

Panel 3 of 3.

Narrator: Final result.

A man is kneeling on the floor, stooping, and looking at the back of a computer on the floor that has a tower form factor. The man is apparently performing some task at the back of the computer with both hands. Wires can be seen hanging from the back of the computer. A woman stands behind the man looking towards him.

Man: Still won’t plug in.

Woman: Try turning it 180 degrees.

Man: How much is 180?

Woman: Quarter turn.

Title: How They Designed USB.