LinuxDevices: Basic Concepts of Real-Time Operating Systems

“To most people, embedded systems are not recognizable as
computers. Instead, they are hidden inside everyday objects that
surround us and help us in our lives. Embedded systems typically do
not interface with the outside world through familiar personal
computer interface devices such as a mouse, keyboard and graphic
user interface. Instead, they interface with the outside world
through unusual interfaces such as sensors, actuators and
specialized communication links.

“Real-time and embedded systems operate in constrained
environments in which computer memory and processing power are
limited. They often need to provide their services within strict
time deadlines to their users and to the surrounding world. It is
these memory, speed and timing constraints that dictate the use of
real-time operating systems in embedded software…”

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