What does "Embedded" mean to you?

jazzed

Embedded is a term often used with micro-controllers.
There are other meanings too.

What does embedded mean to you?

Mike Green

For me, it's when a computer / controller is part of a larger system that is not itself a computing / controlling system. Often the computer / controller is invisible to the end-user of the system or visible only because the interface to it is recognizable because of its familiarity. Examples: microwave oven, cash register, automobile control unit (ignition, instrument panel, etc.), music player (MP3, etc.), cell phone.

LoopyByteloose

Pretty much the same as what Mike Green is expressing.

For instance, washing machines and traffic lights used to handle sequencing with some rather large electro-mechanical devices, but these days a small micro-controller can do all that and much more (such as handling a color touchscreen as a display interface).

I suppose non-embedded would be much clearer - a general purpose desktop computer.

The dilemma with embedded is you need something complex to actually support and often that is just not so important in the real world. Either tan, or the older technology is lacking opportunities to include sensors and controls.

Heater.

Loopy,

"...traffic lights used to handle sequencing with some rather large electro-mechanical devices, but these days a small micro-controller can do all that and much more"

Where I come from traffic lights are controlled by ARM processor boards running Linux. I happen to have implemented much of the traffic light controller software that runs in Scandinavia. Over the years demands for IP connectivity to the intersections and sophisticated timing optimization algorithms has resulted in traffic light controller boxes containing more processing power than the PC I had on my desk a short while back. Still embedded systems though.

Mikes definition is traditional and now strikes me as interesting:

... it's when a computer / controller is part of a larger system that is not itself a computing / controlling system.

The normal interpretation of this is that the user of the system need not know anything of the computer within it. Say a micro in a washing machine or coffee vending machine.

But what now if that device is connected to the "cloud", now the controller is a actually outside the machine in some place who knows where. Now it's "embedded" processor is actually external to the device. Sounds crazy but I bet there are such things already.

xanadu

I think there was a thread about this a couple months ago.

I think of embedded as a device specifically designed to do certain tasks, and nothing else. Flashing firmware is the closest you could get to modifying what it does. End users can't load spyware on em and they don't need to be rebooted twice a day.

SRLM

I define "embedded systems" as a programmable system whose processor serves a specialized role. Embedded is typically characterized by tight constraints (memory, speed, etc.) and numerous disciplines (mechanical, electrical, and software).

jazzed

I like "invisible to the end-user." All the other posts are great too. Thanks.

mindrobots

Embedded: When the consumer is actually more interested in the device being controlled more than the computer controlling it.