What is an embedded device?

Looking back into the 1980s' and earlier, embedded devices during this era were built with microcontroller with limited processing capability, small memory footprint and designed to perform simple function. 

While the common perceptions, which existed in the early years, that an embedded device is built with limited processing capability, limited memory, minimal storage and housed in a small package still remain valid for today's embedded devices, there are embedded devices in today's market that are built with enterprise class computing capability, using high performance multi-core processor, gigabit of system memory, terabit of storage and hosed in a not so small enclosure.

Whether it's a legacy embedded device with minimal capability from 30 years ago or a modern day device built with high performance hardware, an embedded device is generally designed as a closed system and serve a designated purpose.  Think of an embedded device as a device built to serve a specialized purpose, an embedded device is a specialized purpose device.

Living in today's modern city, we are expected to interact with specialized purpose devices daily as we go about our daily living.  Here are some of the devices each of us routinely interacting with:

·         Self-service ticketing machine (parking, movie, train station & airport)

·         Self-service gasoline dispenser

·         Soft drink and snack dispensing machine

·         Automated bank teller machine (ATM)

·         Mobile phone

·         GPS navigation device

·         Digital camera

·         Portable media player

·         Information kiosk at the mall

·         Etc.

Above is just a partial list to raise the point that specialized purpose device (embedded devices) are all around us, more than we can image.

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