Desktop computer systems have become much faster in half a century, with execution speeds that are 1,000x higher. At the same time, memory size increased by 100,000x or so. Although desktop computers are, with mobile phones and tablets the most visible computer systems, they are outnumbered by the number of embedded computers. Embedded computers are found in for example TVs, soundbars, headphones, thermostats, and cars (the latter containing 10-50 embedded computers).

As there are so many embedded computers, they have to be much lower power and cheaper than desktops. To be cheap desktops have to have little memory: 1-512 kByte of memory; every kByte costs a bit. To be low power embedded computers should execute few instructions: they may be able to run at 800 MHz, but it is vastly more efficient to run them at 80 or 8 MHz.

In this talk Henk will discuss what it means to program systems with limited resources.

About The Speaker

Henk is the CTO of XMOS ltd. Before he joined XMOS he worked at Bristol University in the Department of Computer Science. XMOS designs and sells embedded micro-controllers.

Internship & Job Opportunities

• Internships: https://cssbristol.co.uk/jobs/2022_03_01_xmos_internship/
• Jobs: https://www.xmos.ai/workatxmos/