Embedded systems represent a major fraction of the digital systems market as indicated by the fact that embedded systems represent a key technology in the automotive, consumer electronics, industrial automation, military, aerospace, office automation, telecommunication and data-communication industries. As much as 98% of all 32-bit microprocessors currently in use worldwide are used in embedded systems. Thus, it is a very strategic domain from an economic point of view. However, most computer engineering programs teach programming and design skills that are appropriate for a general-purpose computer operating under control of a commercial operating system rather than for the more specialized. Moreover the field is fragmented into many application domains, e.g. aerospace, automotive, railways, telecommunications, consumer electronics, which all have their own design methods and philosophy.

Additionally, embedded software programming can increase opportunities for breadth in a curriculum as these systems naturally involve hardware and software components that interface to various electrical, mechanical and chemical processes. Thus embedded training is an excellent example of an area of study that requires depth and rigor while maintaining breadth required for meeting emerging workforce and education needs of worldwide industry.

The rapid proliferation of embedded technology requires an increasing number of engineers trained in micro controller based systems, real-time concepts, hardware/software co-design, distributed processing, hardware-software integration, and system-level issues in embedded systems design. Instructional material is just beginning to appear in this area from around the world and the development of this focus area, associated instructional materials and evaluation materials will allow us to better train our students and hopefully help in bridging the methodological gaps that exist between these large varieties of application fields.