Title: Embedded systems: smart and intelligent tools in an increasingly interconnected globalised world

Authors: Wim Smit, Wim Hendriksen

Addresses: Embedded Systems Group, HAN University, Ruitenberglaan 26, 6826 CC Arnhem, The Netherlands. ' Embedded Systems Group, HAN University, Ruitenberglaan 26, 6826 CC Arnhem, The Netherlands

Abstract: Since their introduction, embedded systems have caused a tremendous change in society, a change that continues in our days at a pace surpassing every imagination. So far they have been used as a major element in increasing the labour productivity in many businesses, in upgrading the features and properties of countless products and processes, in the rationalisation processes of different industries, in eliminating boring human activities, in the gaming and entertainment industry, etc. As a result, writing about embedded systems often means writing a kind of encyclopaedia, which we will try to avoid in this essay. In this essay, we focus on some critical items in the development process of embedded systems from idea generation towards their first instalment in a product.

Keywords: embedded systems; embedded hardware; embedded software; integrated circuit industry; ambient intelligence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2004.006614

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.4, pp.309 - 323

Published online: 28 Mar 2005 *

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