Not too long ago, high-definition TV changed the world forever by recalibrating the expectations that consumers have from their digital media experience. Content creation and consumption is now at a pivotal point where it is no longer enough to view only television shows and movies in stellar, high-definition quality. With over 600 million users now connected to some form of social media, user-generated content is a significant source of video traffic, with applications such as YouTube and Facebook becoming universal. As users continue to become increasingly mobile, they expect the same quality, performance and accessibility of content while on the go. They want to be able to watch vacation videos, the family webcam chat, or view a previously downloaded HDTV show with a faster and richer user experience. These multiple trends call for a convergence towards a common interface that is easy to use, portable, and flexible enough to provide a connectivity link for all types of media across a variety of applications. USB immediately comes to mind as one of the most user-friendly and universal connectivity options. With the evolution to USB3.0, this interface now provides a 5 Gbps data rate, which further strengthens its case as the video connectivity interface of choice. This article discusses the role USB3.0 can play in the video transport domain and compares it with two main interfaces that are also well-positioned to succeed: HDMI and DisplayPort. All three technologies have merits that compel their use in the digital living room as well in the PC and mobile realms.
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