Early speed tests from Anandtech show that USB 3.1 is significantly quicker than 3.0, pushing almost 700 megabits per second in sustained read/write tests.
The next generation of USB connectors and cables are going to hit the market soon, and they should bring about slimmer laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Is your AC on the fritz? Does your office not have any sort of cooling? In that case, you might want to check out this USB-powered fan and air purifier.