EmbeddedSystems 

What is an Embedded System

This is a short explaning speech about the embedded systems written by me, Daniel Jiseok Song. 2001-11 

 An embedded system is a special computer system dedicated to work for one or several purpose. And its importance is getting greater.


 A. Attention-Gainer:
You probably watched TV today. Many of you should have Walkman or portable radio. Electronic shaver, your cellular phone, PDA, handheld game machine¡¦ etc, do you find out what is the common point of these? They¡¯re all embedded systems. 

 B. Ethos-Establisher:

Do you know the embedded system? Probably you don¡¯t know. Have you heard about the word ¡°embedded system? No? But you use embedded systems all day in diverse ways even if you don¡¯t know about them. (Regardless whether you know it or not, you¡¯re getting familiar with the system, and these systems are getting more common in our life.) 

 C. Preview:
I¡¯ll explain these things within this speech. First I¡¯ll explain what the embedded system is. And second, I¡¯ll inform you that the embedded systems are spreading explosively. 

  II. Body
 A. First Main Idea:

What is the embedded system? I would show you some features they have. They¡¯re usually embedded in other products. They are working standalone. They are infrequently redesigned. Their functionality is mostly fixed. They are usually small computer system. It means that they have CPU, RAM and others like your personal computer.

Is that difficult? I¡¯ll show you an example 

 1. Support
You probably have cellular phone. Cellular phone is an embedded system. It is working standalone. It is infrequently redesigned. After you bought it, it¡¯s very rare to upgrade your phone¡¯s inside. It means reprogrammed. It is small computer system. It has a special purpose CPU, and RAM, and other components computer have. Also you should boot up your cell phone after you turn it on, like your PC, because it¡¯s complicated device. 

 2. Support
And remote controller is also an embedded system. Believe or not it has CPU too. It¡¯s small computer system. It gets user¡¯s button stroke, and determine appropriate command and translate it into infrared signal. 
 3. Support
Example of it, household electronic appliances

                Transition to next main point: lets look at the history of it from past. 

 B. Second Main Idea:

 Embedded systems in the past. They were dumb, not intelligent, limited useful. People thought embedded system is just a machine like typewriter or radio. 

  1. Support
¡°Because¡± Circuit speed was very slow, circuit capacity is limited, ROM or RAM size. 
  2. Support
Because the software technology for complex system is not much developed. 
  3. Support

Transition to next main point: But these days, this prejudice cannot be applied. 

 C. Third Main Idea: New fields to use the system are emerging.
  1. Support
Personal handheld devices are increasing. 
  2. Support
Technology for performance, minimizing is developed, circuit technology, Software methodology or techniques. 
  3. Support
Technologies for adapting new field are developed, like visual recognition, sensor techniques, and powerful electronic actuators, etc.

                Transition to next main point: 

 III. Conclusion
  A. Summary:
  B. Concluding Idea: same as thematic statement