It is often said that we live in a wired world, and this is easy to see. Many modern devices such as desktop computers, laptops, cell phones, and even video game consoles can and often are plugged into not just electrical sockets, but each other and Internet routers, too. These cables, such as cat5 cables or cat6 cables or bulk fiber optic cables, allow for a strong and secure Internet connection. Wireless options exist and have their uses, but if someone is not on the go, then they may prefer to use bulk USB cables, Ethernet cables, and the like to stay connected to the Internet and other devices. Smart phones can be plugged in, too, and modern phones nearly always come with cell phone cables in their packaging. Such cell phone cables allow a smart phone to be plugged into other devices for data sharing and recharging their batteries.
Cables at Home
Many Americans can find a variety of cables in their homes, and not just power cords for appliances like the toaster or a lamp. It is common for a private citizen to have at least a few advanced electronics that use data-sharing cables, such as smart phones, laptops and PCs, video game consoles, and digital projectors. In particular, cell phones are typically smart phones, meaning that they have interactive screens and can use advanced apps and even access the Internet. Such phones use cell phone cables to plug into wall sockets (with an adapter) to recharge their batteries, but cell phone cables also allow these phones to share their music files, videos, and photos with computers and game consoles, and vice versa. Many Americans enjoy easy file sharing between devices such as these, and most often, cables are what make these connections possible. Different cable types can plug into different devices when adapters are used, and such adapters may be found at many electronics stores.
Many Americans also like to build their own home entertainment systems, and this also involves cables. A digital projector or an HDTV may be plugged into a DVD or Blu-Ray Player or a video game console with cables, along with a sound system. Cables will connect all of these devices, and the only real limitation is the need for all devices to be compatible with each other. An HDMI cable is needed for high-def video on a TV or projector, and these cables may, for example, link a modern game console to an HDTV or link a laptop to a digital projector. USB cables can also be used to plug accessories such as keyboards, mice, and speakers to a computer with ease.
Cables in the Office
Modern offices usually involve multiple computers that need Internet access, so an office will hire IT professionals to set up all the hardware and software alike. This means not only setting up desktop PCs for employees to use, but also a data center. For those not familiar with the concept, a data center is a room filled with racks that, in turn, hold hundreds of computers that are linked by cables to form a single entity. These computers don’t have keyboards or monitors, as they’re not meant to be used like a desktop PC. Instead, they pool their processing power and data storage to make a single, vast storage space. Desktop PCs in the workplace can be plugged into this data center, allowing PC users to share their files and access the vast storage space. What is more, computers plugged into this data center enjoy boosted processing power.
Cables make data centers possible, but cables are also necessary for an Internet connection. Wireless Internet connections are possible, but in a crowded office, that can get messy. Instead, all work computers will be plugged into Internet routers with Ethernet cables, typically either cat5 or cat6 models for secure and smooth Internet connections. These cables may be carefully threaded through the office so they don’t pose a tripping hazard, and holes may be drilled into the floor for easier cable access. Employees may routinely inspect all cables to check for damaged ones, since frayed cables have their hot wires exposed. Those wires are a fire hazard until the cable is repaired.
