Could you cope without microcontrollers in your life?

Design and technology

Future tech now!

... a single mini computer that contains a CPU, memory and programmable inputs and outputs.

... a tiny controller that controls microswitches.

... part of a complex system that needs external devices, such as memory and a hard drive, connected to it in order to function.

The internal thermostat on a phone connects to the heating systems.

The phone and heating system or thermostat will be connected via an app and internet connection.

When the phone is close to the heating system or thermostat a physical connection is made between the devices.

How do you think your phone can control the heating in your home? (Image credit: Pixabay)

Flowchart symbols are so much more attractive to read and make the flowchart more aesthetically pleasing.

The flowchart lets the user know more information more clearly than a bullet point list. The boxes help the person reading the flowchart to know the action written inside the box.

You can write more information inside the flowchart shapes than by using bullet points.

Why are flowchart symbols used when a list of bullet points could be just as easy to read?

... part of a computer system; additions such as memory and a hard drive are needed alongside it.

... single computer unit that contains a processor and memory.

... tiny device that is so small you can't see it with the naked eye.

Do you think this central heating systems contains a microprocessor or a microcontroller?

Do you think this memory stick is for RAM or ROM?

Could you cope without microcontrollers in your life?

Lesson outcome