Datasheet

Chapter 1: Windows Embedded CE
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While a computer is designed for general computing purposes, allowing the user to install different
operating systems and applications to perform different tasks, an embedded device is generally
developed with a single purpose and provides certain designated functions. Often the embedded device
is designed as a closed system and does not allow applications from other developers to run on the
system.
Throughout our daily lives, each of us interacts with multiple embedded devices. Here ’ s a listing of
some of the more common ones:
Telephone, car phone, and mobile phone
VCR, video CD player, DVD player/recorder, digital video recorder/player
Remote control for TV, audio system, DVD player, garage door opener, security systems for
automobiles and other devices
Credit card reader, cash register, and self - service kiosk
Digital camera, camcorder, digital photo frame, and gaming console
Fax machine, copy machine, and printer
The above list contains only a few of the more common devices. It would take a much longer list to cover
all embedded devices.
Embedded Software
Many software development projects use similar programming languages, such as the C language, with
different operating systems and running on different types of hardware.
Fundamentally, the overall software development process should be the same regardless of the type of
project. In an ideal situation, a competent project manager should evaluate the project thoroughly and
establish the best possible development process to accomplish the tasks. Developers should use due
diligence and apply their best efforts to reduce development time and to develop efficient code that can
run on computing hardware in a way that minimizes resources used and cost of the product.
In the real world, it ’ s the business manager ’ s responsibility to deliver more profit while lowering costs.
To the development team, this translates into having to solve more difficult problems with fewer resources.
The key difference between developing an embedded application and developing an application for the
desktop computer has to do with the specifications for the application.
Application for Desktop Computer
When developing applications for the desktop computer, the developer expects the application will run
on a computer with at least a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The monitor is expected to be able to
display VGA or higher display resolution. In the current market, even the cheapest monitor can support
a 1024 × 768 display resolution.
In general, when developing application for the desktop computer, the developer doesn ’ t need to give
much consideration to the user interface or the display monitor, keyboard and mouse. In addition, the
developer can safely assume that the typical computer will have a 1.0 Ghz or faster processor with
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