Embedded Systems: Computer Science OCR: GCSE (9:1)

Embedded system

A computer system dedicated to a single function within a larger electrical or mechanical system

Dedicated

Having a single purpose or function, not general purpose. Embedded systems are this

General purpose

A computer system that can have many uses, it can run application software and do more than one thing

Small

The relative size of embedded systems, compared to general purpose computers

Cheap

The cost of an embedded system compared to a general purpose computer

Control system

An embedded system in traffic lights or a dishwasher manages the hardware, turning things on and off. We often use this two word phrase to describe such a computer

Desktop computer

An example of a general purpose computer. It sits on the desk and runs a multi-tasking operating system such as Windows or macOS

Efficient

Embedded systems are this, meaning they can use cheaper, low-spec CPUs and less RAM than general-purpose computers, because they are designed to do just one thing well

Multitasking

Running more than one program at once. General purpose computers can do this, embedded systems cannot

Traffic lights

Signals that instruct drivers to stop and go, they are controlled by an embedded system whose one function is to control the lights

Dishwasher

Home appliance to wash plates, the computer in this device has only one job, to control the valves and heaters in the machine

Power

Embedded systems consume a lot less of this, meaning they can run for a long time on batteries or solar energy

Memory

General purpose computers need a lot of this, because they are designed to run many different programs. Embedded systems don't need to store a lot of instructions or data so this can be small