Embedded, Everywhere: A Research Agenda for Networked Systems of...

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 236 pages
• Published by: National Academies Press
• Edition: 1st Edition October 15, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0309075688
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0309075688
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 11.2 ounces

Book Description
Report from the Committee on Networked Systems of Embedded Computers, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, National Research Council. Softcover.

Book Description
Advances in the miniaturization and networking of microprocessors promise a _day when networked computers are embedded throughout the everyday world. However, our current understanding of what such systems would be like is insufficient to bring the promise to reality.

Embedded, Everywhere explores the potential of networked systems of embedded computers and the research challenges arising from embedding computation and communications technology into a wide variety of applications—from precision agriculture to automotive telematics to defense systems.

It describes how these emerging networks operate under unique constraints not present in more traditional distributed systems, such as the Internet. It articulates how these networks will have to be dynamically adaptive and self-configuring, and how new models for approaching programming and computation are necessary.

Issues relating to trustworthiness, security, safety, reliability, usability, and privacy are examined in light of the ubiquitous nature of these systems. A comprehensive, systems-oriented research agenda is presented, along with recommendations to major federal funding agencies.

Reader Reviews
Prognostication is a tough business to be in. The National Research Council is routinely put into that position nevertheless-- and we're better off for it. This work, "Embedded, Everywhere", is a work from some of the top people in Computer Science today and attempts to identify the issues relating to a world saturated with computing resources. EmNets, networked systems of embedded computers, are the central theme of the book. This isn't science fiction. Some of what is discussed in the work is already touching our lives. "It should come as no surprise that the modern automobile is already a rolling network of embedded computers. In model year 2001, cars have between twenty and eighty microprocessors controlling everything from the running of the engine to the break system to the deployment of the airbags." While this certainly presents technical challenges, there are ethical ones as well. "Few automobile drivers, for example, are currently aware that many cars collect and store information about the way the car has been driven (e.g., driving speed, acceleration, engine speed). This information can be used by manufacturers to better analyze accidents and, hence, improve safety but could also be used to disallow warranty claims or to prove that an automobile was operated in an unsafe manner." Today's computing systems are complex and in amazing places. Yet, the book makes the following assertion: "...as the rest of this report makes clear, incremental improvement to today's solutions will not suffice to realize the full potential of EmNets." The book then goes on to identify those problem areas and to make specific recommendations for research into solving those problems. The book has an impressive list of authors. Deborah Estrin, professor of CS at UCLA was the committee chair and was backed up by Mark Horowitz of Stanford, Barbara Liskov of MIT and others from academia. This wasn't just some university exercise, however. Industry was also well represented on the effort with the likes of Jerry Fiddler (founder and chairman of Wind River Systems), Robert Colwell (lead architect for the P6 at Intel), and Jim Waldo (Sun Microsystems and developer of the first CORBA ORB and later Jini Network Technology), to name a few. There is a hard-edged, practical feel to the extensive discussions in this small book. Technical, architectural, methodological, social, and ethical concerns are explored in depth. Predicting the future is difficult. Luckily, you don't need to. Just follow the research initiatives and they will light the path. Comment | | (Report this)