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From: eachus@spectre.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: Ada Run-time for embedded systems
Date: 10 Feb 1995 01:13:30 GMT
Organization: The Mitre Corp., Bedford, MA.
Message-ID: <EACHUS.95Feb9201330@spectre.mitre.org>
References: <INFO-ADA%95020912464180@VM1.NODAK.EDU>
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In-reply-to: CONDIC@PSAVAX.PWFL.COM's message of Thu, 9 Feb 1995 13:47:10 EST
Date: 1995-02-10T01:13:30+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>

In article <INFO-ADA%95020912464180@VM1.NODAK.EDU> CONDIC@PSAVAX.PWFL.COM writes:

  > Plugging a Sun/Unix workstation into an aircraft via a 1553 bus
  > does not seem to me to constitute an "embedded" system - even
  > though, as you observe, it might very well be considered a
  > "realtime" system...

  > I think my point was to observe that the word "embedded" and the
  > word "realtime" tend to get abused rather badly and this can
  > confuse the discussion - especially as it related to the original
  > theme of COTS on "embedded" machines. I'd still like to ask if
  > anyone has an effective definition of either term such that it
  > can exclude from the discussion IBM mainframe payroll programs.
  > (Of course, there are always us obstinate Philidelphia Lawyers
  > who'd argue the point just to be arguing something! ;-)

    I'd have to go back to the early eighties to get the "official"
definition of embedded computer, but the way I usually think of it is,
if the computer can be used to directly point a weapon, or a radar, or
another type of sensor, it is embedded.

    Of course, recent developments in the area of controlling
astronomical telescopes via the Internet are starting to blur even
that line.  (Similarly, SCIS, which only passes messages should
probably be thought of as an embedded communications system.)

--

					Robert I. Eachus

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