conanbos的专栏

The most visible use of computers and software is processing information for human consumption. We use them to write books (like this one), search for information on the web, communicate via email, and keep track of financial data. The vast majority of computers in use, however, are much less visible. They run the engine, brakes, seatbelts, airbag, and audio system in your car. They digitally encode your voice and construct a radio signal to send it from your cell phone to a base station. They control your microwave oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. They run printers ranging from desktop inkjet printers to large industrial high-volume printers. They command robots on a factory floor, power generation in a power plant, processes in a chemical plant, and traffic lights in a city. They search for microbes in biological samples, construct images of the inside of a human body, and measure vital signs. They process radio signals from space looking for supernovae and for extraterrestrial intelligence. They bring toys to life, enabling them to react to human touch and to sounds. They control aircraft and trains. These less visible computers are called embedded systems, and the software they run is called embedded software.