As the demand for faster and more efficient high-performance computers grows, so do the dimensions of the form factors that house them. Computer engineers have been tasked for years with the difficult task of incorporating increasingly powerful computers into and onto increasingly smaller chassis and printed circuit boards (PCBs), primarily to meet a growing demand for more reliable, affordable, size-conscious, energy-efficient, and cost-effective computer systems. This is why the world of embedded systems continues to see boundary-pushing size, weight, power, and cost developments. 2.1 Use your knowledge of embedded systems and devices to answer the question below. 2.1.1 What are embedded systems? 2.1.2 What are the various kinds of embedded systems? (5) (15) 2.1.3 What is the difference between soft and hard real-time embedded systems? (10)