Portable data storage and image recording device capable of direct connection to a computer USB port

A portable device capable of operation with a host platform, the portable device comprising:

• a coupling device for coupling the portable device to a serial bus of the host platform;
• a non-volatile memory in communication with said coupling device;
• a digital camera for capturing image and/or audio information, said non-volatile memory capable of storing said image and/or audio information;
• a flexible communications cable for coupling said digital camera to said non-volatile memory, said flexible communications cable allowing said digital camera to move with respect to said non-volatile memory.

A method of capturing image and/or audio information and uploading the image and/or audio information to a host platform, comprising the steps of:

• (a) capturing image and/or audio data;
• (b) digitizing said image and/or audio data captured in said step (a);
• (c) processing said image and/or audio data digitized in said step (b) into a form compatible with the host platform;
• and
• (d) uploading said image and/or audio data to the host platform via a coupling to a serial port of the host platform.

A method of authenticating an operator seeking access to information on a storage medium, comprising the steps of:

• (a) capturing image and/or audio identification data via a digital camera;
• (b) comparing at least portions of said image and/or audio data against a template stored in a memory;
• and
• (c) allowing access to the information if the image and/or audio identification data matches the stored template upon comparison in said step (b).