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Custom USB Flash Drive Get Kids Engaged in Design Technology

If you're struggling to get your pupils engaged and excited about Design Technology then you might want to follow in the path of a number of other UK schools that have challenged their students to design, build and package their own custom USB flash drives.

Whilst USB flash drives are not quite in the same league as mobile phones they are "techie gadgets" that the students will relate to and many will own and use already. Realistically we're not quite at the stage where a group of mixed ability students could design and build a working mobile phone from scratch but a working USB flash drive is pretty much within the grasp of anyone.

OK, they might need a little bit of direction and encouragement but the ready availability of the core components means that building a flash drive is more of a design and assembly task and requires no complex manufacturing. The results can be stunning and of course the student will be left with a working USB flash drive that can be used in anger to save and transport their school work on.

The internal components of a flash drive are; a flash memory module, a controller chip and a PCB chassis with a USB connector on the end of it. These elements can be purchased as a single component and then a body or "shell" designed and fabricated around it. In essence this is what the factories that produce the flash drives in volume in China do but they use standard "factory shells" that are in the public domain.

It would be relatively easy and not too expensive to take any "winning" design and produce it in volume for the school. Fully customised USB flash drives are popular business promotional products and are commonly used to encourage the sale of all manner of goods from Nike Trainers to Fork-Lift Trucks. The growth in the commissioning of custom versions has forced down the set-up and moulding costs to a point where they are only marginally more expensive than "standard" factory models.

So, as well as setting pupils the challenge of designing a building a custom USB flash drive it's also possible to do this in the context of a "competition" and put the winning version into production by way of an award. Get the design right and it would be worth approaching the commercial suppliers of promotional USB flash drives with the design. They might even be willing to buy it off you – it's a crowded market at the moment and all the suppliers are fighting for points of differentiation and a unique design would be something they may be willing to pay for.

 

About the Author

Phil is part of the team at USB2U. Launched in 2002 USB2U has now establised iteself as one of the leading supplier of branded flash drives and custom USB memory sticks in the UK. USB2U offer a free design and mock up service couple with great prices and outstanding customer support. Contact us today for a quote. We'd love to hear from you.

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