Embedded systems have come a long way in terms of design and technology in the past few years. From being a system embedded or installed beneath various layers of other computer systems invisible from the eye of the user to be the mainstream concern, there is so much that the embedded systems have accomplished and have yet to reach.
What is an embedded system?
A combination of a computer microprocessor, memory device, microcontroller, and other devices, an embedded system is a blend of software and hardware specifically created to perform designated tasks.
Why are graphics gaining increased acclamation in the embedded system world?
For a long time, an embedded system was only made to perform a specific task without any interference needed from the user end. With the increasing need for simplified technological devices and the increase of complicated demands of the users, the GUI or Graphical User Interface is needed so that the user can communicate with the device with ease and without delving deep into any technical aspects.
The challenges faced when designing graphics for an embedded system:-
Before the much-needed advancement in the GUI embedded systems and their designing, the systems requiring a graphical interface had to tolerate the energy devouring high-speed peripheral buses for graphic cards, or employed commercial PCs.
The challenges that followed their usage was a tremendous usage of wattage and also increased heat emission or thermal dissipation, affecting both the device and other devices near it.
Hence followed is a study of challenges that arise when designing graphics for embedded systems:-
Conceptualization
Conceptualization is the process that is undergone when planning for the development of any feature, device, blueprint, idea, etc. The graphical interface of today requires an ever increased ease of use and a display that requires minimal understanding from a manual. The whole idea that goes behind this can not be approved in a single concept.
Hence, when the graphic interface process is being carried out, the concepts that go behind it are rather challenging with respect to today’s need for ease of use and system interface interference.
- Each embedded device that is in need of a graphic interface requires a specific and specialized set of widgets.
- With the advancement mania of today and the demand that users need not know about any technical aspects that are going behind the devices, new features are needed to be continuously added to devices.
- To test that the concept made into the device will work as intended, multiple prototypes are needed. The prototypes are an elementary version of the device and aim to showcase or reflect the use of the actual device before it can be manufactured on a large scale.
- As constantly improved and updated devices are on high demand, to manufacture a device different from all others, a unique and creative environment for design, development, and production is required.
- A single concept can not be responsible for the development behind multiple devices. Hence, new ideas, all varying in technology and features, are required for the development of multiple devices.
Parallel GUI development
Embedded platforms that designers and graphical interface developers use vary a great deal depending on the system requiring the GUI. These platforms require different features based on what the devices developed from these platforms will be intended to perform.
The parallel GUI development challenges that these embedded platforms and hardware systems face are as follows:-
- The embedded platforms deployed can be having limited functionalities and hence a shortcoming when designing graphics for an embedded system.
- Another shortcoming here can be the non-existence of windowing systems that help manage different parts of a display screen separately.
- Another challenge under the parallel development of GUI is that the graphic interface development cannot be begun before the development of the embedded system hardware.
Platform scalability or capability
Platform scalability can be defined as the capacity to produce capabilities by a computing process, or here, a design for a graphic interface for an embedded system. Scalability can also be defined as the ability to change size or scale. In a computing system, this accounts for its abilities and requirements.
- While designing graphics for an embedded system, multiple os/processor combinations are needed. A processor is a medium to perform functions that are arithmetic, logical, etc. and passes on other information that is passed on by an operating system (os).
- As previously mentioned, GUI development or usage requires a lot of energy, and in turn, emits tremendous heat. It is greatly required that the carbon footprint along the process of graphics designing is small.
- The process also requires multiple Input/Output devices.
How you can counteract these challenges?
To win against these challenges, platforms are needed that provide solutions like templates, layouts, embedded graphic libraries, etc. The embedded GUI designing software by Crank Software helps in creating high-performance UI screens and helps build a responsive GUI on all hardware. Their no code import design for files and optimization makes them an excellent embedded GUI development tool.
This award-winning platform currently works with companies like CocaCola, etc., and will aid you in saving money, energy, and creating GUIs, especially for embedded systems.