Trends in Embedded Systems--A Microsoft Perspective

A poster on my office door declares, "98% of all CPUs shipped today are destined for devices"; I declare, Embedded Systems are one of the most exciting areas in contemporary computer systems engineering. Microsoft has addressed this field, not only with research activities where I am focused, but in a wide range of products from the powerhouse Xbox 360 game console, through the increasingly ubiquitous Windows Mobile PDAs and Smartphones, to the diminutive MSN Direct watch and its cousin devices. We are also well-known for our hardware devices such as mice, keyboards and other input devices - all of which are embedded systems in their own right. For third party device manufacturers, we provide a rich range of platform technologies in the Windows Embedded family. Last but not least, in December 2006 we released the Microsoft Robotics Studio, with a view to helping the birth of a new generation of intelligent embedded machines. My talk will aim to provide a personal perspective on Microsoft\´s interests in this vast and exciting field, with a view to suggesting some implications on the teaching of such technologies to prepare the next generation of engineers.