Embedded systems compared with general-purpose computers

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

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

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

3. Which device is a general-purpose computer?

A A laptop

B A microwave oven

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

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

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1embedded system		AEvery computer runs programs. A laptop does many different jobs and can install new software, so it is a general-purpose computer.
2general-purpose computer		BA computer that can do many different jobs because users can install and run different software
3A device that does one dedicated job with a fixed program is an embedded system		CA computer built into a device to do one dedicated job using a fixed program
4A device that runs many installable programs is a general-purpose computer		DLaptop: browser, games, documents -> general-purpose
5A smart TV remote is a general-purpose computer because it has a chip.		EMicrowave oven: heats food only -> embedded system
6A laptop is an embedded system because it runs a program.		FHaving 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.

Definitions

embedded system

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

jobs ← 1 IF jobs = _ THEN OUTPUT "embedded system" ENDIF

jobs ← 5 IF jobs _ 1 THEN OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"

canInstall ← TRUE IF __________ = TRUE THEN OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"

reason ← "it does one fixed job" OUTPUT "Embedded system because " & ______

device ← "washing machine" canInstall ← _____ OUTPUT "Fixed program"

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A device = "microwave oven"

B jobs = 12

C if jobs == 1:

D print("embedded system")

E else:

F print("general-purpose")

Question 2

A device = "laptop"

B jobs = 50

C if jobs > 1

D print("general-purpose")

E else:

F print("embedded system")

Question 3

A washing_machine = "embedded"

B laptop = "embedded"

C print(washing_machine)

D print(laptop)

Question 4

A def classify(jobs):

B if jobs == 1:

C return "general-purpose"

D return "general-purpose"

E print(classify(1))

Question 5

A fridge = {"job": "cooling"}

B fridge["program"] = "fixed"

C pc = {"job": "many"}

D pc["program"] = "fixed"

Answer Key

Embedded systems compared with general-purpose computers

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Embedded system

B — It can do many different jobs by running different software

A — A laptop

A — It is usually fixed and not changed by the user

A — Because it does one dedicated job: controlling the temperature

Section B: 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.

Section C: Definitions

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.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

jobs ← 1
IF jobs = 1 THEN OUTPUT "embedded system"
ENDIF

jobs ← 5
IF jobs > 1 THEN
  OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"

canInstall ← TRUE
IF canInstall = TRUE THEN
  OUTPUT "general-purpose computer"

reason ← "it does one fixed job"
OUTPUT "Embedded system because " & reason

device ← "washing machine"
canInstall ← FALSE
OUTPUT "Fixed program"

Section E: Spot the Error

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.

C — The if statement is missing its colon at the end. It should be if jobs > 1:.

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".

C — A device that does only one job (jobs == 1) is an embedded system. The line should be return "embedded".

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.