New challenges in computer science education

Abstract

It is predicted that by the year 2010, 90% of the overall program code developed will be for embedded computing systems. This fact requires urgent changes in the organization of the current computer science curriculums, as advocated by a number of academics. The changes will help students deal with the idiosyncrasies of embedded systems, which requires knowledge about the computation engine, its energy consumption model, performance, interfaced artifacts, reconfigurable hardware programming, etc. This paper discusses some important issues to be included in modern computer science programs, in order to prepare students to be able to program future embedded computers. In particular, we present an approach we are attempting to implement at our institution. We also illustrate infrastructures that permit students to implement complex examples and gain deep knowledge about the topics being taught. Finally, with this paper we hope to foment a fruitful discussion on those issues.

Teaching programming using embedded systems

“…Cisco, a maker of networking gear, estimates that by 2015 there may be almost 15 billion network connected devices, up from 7.5 billion in 2010 [2]. It has been forecast that 90% of all computer code developed will be for embedded computing systems in the next decade [3]. While microcontroller technology is becoming ubiquitous in daily life, it is still largely absent from our educational curriculum.…”

A novel embedded system curriculum with portable hands-on labs in a box

“…The rapid growth of pervasive embedded system applications has increased the demand of experienced professionals in this area, and has created a shortage of such professionals with the specialized expertise [1][2]. Embedded system design is currently not yet well taught in academic programs [8].…”

Diverse hardware platforms in embedded systems lab courses

“…The first group consists of reconfigurable hardware as complex programmable logic devices (CPLD) and field programmable logic arrays (FPGA); application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) form the second group. In most embedded system design courses for computer science students only the design of CPU based systems is taught [1], [2]. However, reconfigurable hardware is a good option to improve many embedded applications [4], [8]; an option which students will probably never choose if they do not get in touch with it before.…”

“…However, reconfigurable hardware is a good option to improve many embedded applications [4], [8]; an option which students will probably never choose if they do not get in touch with it before. According to the need of education in this field [1], [2], [3] we aim to teach our students the general ideas of different hardware and their corresponding software. In the lab course presented in this paper the differences between CPU based systems and reconfigurable hardware are focused on.…”

“…Since reconfigurable hardware (CPLD/FPGA) has blurred the gap between hardware and software programming [1] it has become harder to distinguish between these two areas. This is our reason to recommend dealing with all kinds of "programmable hardware" like hardware whose behavior is defined by software.…”