How many times have you inserted a USB flash drive into your computer, only to realise that you’ll need to empty half its contents before you can move your files onto it? With the Flashbag USB drive, conceptualised by Russian designer Dima Komissarov, you’ll always know approximately how much free disk space you have on your drive.

The Flashbag device is designed with a micro pump, so that it expands in proportion to the amount of data it contains. It also holds its shape when the drive is switched off, so you always have an intuitive visual cue as to how full it is. The only downside I can imagine is that unlike typical USB flash drives, which fit easily into pockets and bags with their fixed slender forms, a puffed-up Flashbag might stick out a little among your accessories. And I’m not sure what happens if you, er, sit on it …

The Flashbag USB drive is just a design concept for now, but it sure seems like an easy enhancement that would make existing drives a lot more user-friendly.

Via Architectradure.