Summary

This chapter examined several specialized domains of computing, including real-time systems, digital signal processing, and GPU processing. After completing this chapter, you should have greater familiarity with the features of modern computers related to real-time operation, the processing of analog signals, and graphics processing in application areas including gaming, voice communication, video display, and the supercomputer-like applications of GPUs. These capabilities are important extensions to the core computing tasks performed by the central processor, whether in a cloud server, a desktop computer, or a smartphone.

The next chapter will take a deeper look at modern processor architectures, specifically the von Neumann, Harvard, and modified Harvard variants. The chapter will also cover the use of paged virtual memory and the features and functions of a memory management unit.