From COM to SMARC to OSM: The Evolution of Embedded Computing Modules (Download)
Have embedded developers ever had such a wide choice of high-performance, power-efficient computing modules? The breadth of options now available allows them to tailor size, cost, and performance without resorting to using custom hardware and the engineering costs that inevitably come with extensive component-level design. The proliferation is driven primarily by vendors choosing to adopt open standards rather than trying to build market share with limited, proprietary offerings.
Open board-level platforms have much in common with open-source software. Both gain from the scrutiny of experienced engineers from many organisations and industrial sectors.