Embedded Systems

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software, either fixed in capability or programmable, designed for a specific function or functions within a larger system. Industrial machines, agricultural and process industry devices, automobiles, medical equipment, cameras, household appliances, airplanes, vending machines and toys, as well as mobile devices, are possible locations for an embedded system.

Embedded systems are computing systems, but they can range from having no user interface (UI) -- for example, on devices in which the system is designed to perform a single task -- to complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs), such as in mobile devices. User interfaces can include buttons, LEDs, touchscreen sensing and more. Some systems use remote user interfaces as well.