30 Examples of the Coolest Embedded Computers
Today, computers are used in every aspect of our lives. From the way, we shop, to the services we buy, to the cars we drive, and even the clothes we wear; every possible electronic gadget requires a computer chip to function. These chips are what make up an embedded computer.
Some embedded computers are not very noticeable at all because they’re inside of everyday items like appliances and car dashboard screens. Other embedded computers can be found in devices like microwaves and printers.
What is an embedded computer?
Embedded computers are more powerful than personal computers. They’re smaller, cheaper, and run more efficiently. There are a lot of advantages to embedded systems. Embedded systems can utilize a wide range of sensors and actuators along with the ever-changing worlds of computer vision and machine learning. These new technologies need computing power that is more flexible and efficient than what is offered by the typical PC and they need an architecture that will allow them to quickly respond to external events.
Why are they better than PCs?
In today’s market, you can find a PC at just about any store. In contrast, embedded computers are often only available through specialty stores, which often charge more for these devices as well. However, embedded computers have a lot going for them that PCs don’t have. For example, they have a variety of input options and outputs, they have a longer battery life, and they require less storage space than a PC does.
30 Examples of the Coolest Embedded Computers in daily life:
- Digital alarm clocks
- Lighting systems
- GPS navigation devices
- Heart rate monitors and pacemakers
- CD players, iPods, and MP3 players
- Parking lot ticket machines
- Cash registers
- Digital signature pads
- Electronic toys
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Smartwatches
- Washing machines and dishwashers
- Home security systems
- Air-conditioners and thermostats
- Electric stoves, pressure cookers, and tea/coffee machines
- Traffic lights
- Vending machines
- Electronic parking meters and parking pay stations
- Robotic vacuum cleaners
- Fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Printers, photocopy, fax machines, and scanners
- Digital and video cameras
- Calculators
- Remote control gate keys
- Digital thermometers
- Motion sensors
- PDAs and hand-held computers
- Electronic safes
- WiFi routers
- Automobile systems
You may not realize just how common embedded computers are in your everyday life, but it is possible that you interact with one every day.
Also, They are designed to work with other devices to make them more useful
In addition to that different uses for embedded computers can be found in cars, toys, office equipment, cell phones, and even in our homes. Most of them are designed to be “add-ons” to a device. For example, a smartphone can run an embedded computer that is used to control the display and the speakers.
They are also common in toys. For example, the “VTech Kidizoom” is a smart toy that allows a child to capture images and sounds.
In the last decade, the development of small, low-power, and energy-efficient devices has increased the popularity of embedded computers.
While they are used in many different applications and are becoming smaller and cheaper every year. The progress in embedded computing is now bringing the dream of ubiquitous computing to reality. Cheap, powerful, and small embedded computers are now within reach of everybody.
In conclusion,
the future of computers is very bright. Manufacturing companies are using more lightweight material for the computer’s casing and the CPU is getting faster every day. The best thing about this is that these new developments in technology not only make it easier to carry around a computer, but they also require less energy to power it.