← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Embedded systems compared with general-purpose computers

A computer built into a device to do one dedicated job with a fixed program, unlike a general-purpose computer, which does many different jobs and can run installable software.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 3.1 Computer Architecture — Module 34

Understanding Embedded systems compared with general-purpose computers in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: A microwave only heats food and its program is fixed, so it is an embedded system. A laptop does many different jobs and new software can be installed, so it is a general-purpose computer. The mistake is judging by the presence of a processor. The type depends on whether the device does one job or many.

Common mistakes: A microwave oven does one dedicated job, so jobs should be 1. With 12 the program would wrongly call it a general-purpose computer. The line should be jobs = 1. The if statement is missing its colon at the end. It should be if jobs > 1:.

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Learning
Duo
A washing machine controller runs one fixed program to control the wash cycle. What type of system is it?
General-purpose computerEmbedded system
Matches
A smart TV remote is a general-purpose computer because it has a chip.
↓
Having a chip does not make a device general-purpose. The remote does one dedicated job with a fixed program, so it is an embedded system.
Applying
Meanings
Term
embedded system
Meaning
A computer built into a device to do one dedicated job with a fixed program, unlike a general-purpose computer, which does many different jobs and can run installable software.
Practice
A washing machine is an embedded system because it does one dedicated job.
Testing
Gaps
IF jobs = THEN OUTPUT "embedded system"
Check Answer
Spots
1device = "microwave oven"
2jobs = 12

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Quick Questions

1. A washing machine controller runs one fixed program to control the wash cycle. What type of system is it?
A. General-purpose computer
B. Embedded system ✓
It does one dedicated job (controlling the wash) with a fixed program, so it is an embedded system.
2. Which statement describes a general-purpose computer?
A. It does one dedicated job with a fixed program
B. It can do many different jobs by running different software ✓
A general-purpose computer is flexible: you can run a browser, a word processor or a game on the same machine.
3. Which device is a general-purpose computer?
A. A laptop ✓
B. A microwave oven
A laptop can run many different programs. A microwave has an embedded system that only controls cooking.
4. Which is true about the program in an embedded system?
A. It is usually fixed and not changed by the user ✓
B. The user regularly installs new apps on it
Embedded systems normally keep one fixed program for their dedicated job. Installable software belongs to general-purpose computers.
5. Choose the best exam answer: why is a digital thermostat an embedded system?
A. Because it does one dedicated job: controlling the temperature ✓
B. Because it can run many different programs
A good answer uses 'because' and links the device to the dedicated function. Running many programs would make it general-purpose.

Match the Pairs

embedded system → A computer built into a device to do one dedicated job using a fixed program
general-purpose computer → A computer that can do many different jobs because users can install and run different software
A device that does one dedicated job with a fixed program is an embedded system → Microwave oven: heats food only -> embedded system
A device that runs many installable programs is a general-purpose computer → Laptop: browser, games, documents -> general-purpose
A smart TV remote is a general-purpose computer because it has a chip. → Having a chip does not make a device general-purpose. The remote does one dedicated job with a fixed program, so it is an embedded system.
A laptop is an embedded system because it runs a program. → Every computer runs programs. A laptop does many different jobs and can install new software, so it is a general-purpose computer.

Key Term

embedded system
A computer built into a device to do one dedicated job with a fixed program, unlike a general-purpose computer, which does many different jobs and can run installable software.

Fill in the Blanks

1. jobs ← 1 IF jobs = 1 THEN OUTPUT "embedded system" ENDIF
Hint: Type the number of jobs a device has when it is built for one dedicated purpose.
2. jobs ← 5 IF jobs > 1 THEN OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"
Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks for more than one job.
3. canInstall ← TRUE IF canInstall = TRUE THEN OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"
Hint: Type the variable name that tells us whether new software can be installed.
4. reason ← "it does one fixed job" OUTPUT "Embedded system because " & reason
Hint: Type the variable that holds the justification joined after the word 'because'.
5. device ← "washing machine" canInstall ← FALSE OUTPUT "Fixed program"
Hint: Type the Boolean value showing whether a washing machine's fixed program allows installing new software.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A device = "microwave oven"
B jobs = 12
C if jobs == 1:
D print("embedded system")
E else:
F print("general-purpose")
Line B — A microwave oven does one dedicated job, so jobs should be 1. With 12 the program would wrongly call it a general-purpose computer. The line should be jobs = 1.
Question 2
A device = "laptop"
B jobs = 50
C if jobs > 1
D print("general-purpose")
E else:
F print("embedded system")
Line C — The if statement is missing its colon at the end. It should be if jobs > 1:.
Question 3
A washing_machine = "embedded"
B laptop = "embedded"
C print(washing_machine)
D print(laptop)
Line B — A laptop does many different jobs and can install software, so it is a general-purpose computer, not an embedded system. It should be laptop = "general-purpose".
Question 4
A def classify(jobs):
B if jobs == 1:
C return "general-purpose"
D return "general-purpose"
E print(classify(1))
Line C — A device that does only one job (jobs == 1) is an embedded system. The line should be return "embedded".
Question 5
A fridge = {"job": "cooling"}
B fridge["program"] = "fixed"
C pc = {"job": "many"}
D pc["program"] = "fixed"
Line D — A general-purpose computer (PC) can have new software installed, so its program is not fixed. It should be pc["program"] = "installable". A fixed program belongs to an embedded system.

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