National Flash Drive Day

There was a time when it was almost impossible to imagine that something so small as a “jump drive” or “thumb drive” could carry around huge amounts of information that could fit right into a person’s pocket. Flash Drives may be used less often today because of the connectedness of the world through the internet, but there was a time when the flash drive meant a great deal. 

National Flash Drive Day is here to show appreciation not only for this particular bit of technology, but for the inventors and innovators who regularly keep the world moving forward with their clever dreaming and creative thinking!

History of National Flash Drive Day

Flash memory was first invented in the 1980s in Japan through the work of an engineer, Dr. Fujio Masuoka who was working for the company, Toshiba. The name for the invention came through an association with the ability to erase in a “flash”, as quick as a camera. The technology was used in floppy disks and other disc drives, eventually evolving into the portable flash drive.

National Flash Drive Day was founded in 2019 through the efforts of the company called USB Memory Direct. The purpose behind the day is to acknowledge and celebrate the invention of the USB (universal serial bus) Flash Disk. The event was established on this day, in commemoration of the anniversary of the patent that was first granted for this invention, on April 5, 2000.

How to Celebrate National Flash Drive Day

Show some love for innovation and creative technology by celebrating National Flash Drive Day with some of these activities:

Use a Flash Drive

Dig into the back of that random drawer in the office and pull out an old thumb drive and plug it into the computer – just to see what’s on it! Perhaps it’s an old report written in high school or a paper from college? Maybe it’s an outdated document or a letter written to an old chum. Just for nostalgia’s sake, check it out and see what kind of interesting things can be found in honor of National Flash Drive Day.

Recycle Flash Drives

Not sure what to do with all of those random, unused USB flash drives that are lying around? In honor of National Flash Drive Day, instead of throwing them in the trash, pass them on to someone who can make use of them. Of course, it’s important to be sure to remove all personal information first and then find some local places that receive flash drives and will use them for a purpose. There are a number of different online programs that will receive used or new flash drives, including Flash Drives for Freedom and the Human Rights Foundation. 

A few other exciting days that celebrate and commemorate important inventions in the lives of humans include Cable Car Day on January 17, National Paperclip Day on May 29, and Innovation Day on February 16.