The tutorial is divided into modules which I will have at least a post per week. This tutorial needs at least a basic theoretical knowledge of electricity and computer, if you are totally not familiar with it you can still gain a lot but you have to read further on net.
Each module will be a new topic so as to give room for continuous comments on a particular topic.

This is the link to my previous post which talks about the importance of learning Embedded System. https://www.nairaland.com/2174624/embedded-systems-future-electronics-computer

#MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

A computer system (combination of hardware and software), designed for a specific control within a larger system is referred to as an embedded system. An embedded system is designed for specific task so it needs little processing power and little size of memory unlike the PC which works with larger data such as pictures, videos, sounds etc. Example of an embedded system is a system containing a microcontroller, systems like a moving message display, traffic light, code access system, finger print access system, fire alarm system, air conditioner, home office or industry automation system, stabilizers, automatic voltage switchers and controls, TV sets etc.

An embedded system is designed to run on its own without human intervention except it is programmed to accept input from a push button, it responds to input data collected via input transducers or another electronics system, process the data, and gives information through the output transducers or gives the information to another system for further processing, and may be required to respond to events in real time.
An embedded system can also be a specialized computer system that is part of a large system or machines. Typically, the heart of an embedded system is a microcontroller housed on a single chip. It is also referred to as a single chip computer. It contains a Microprocessor, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, IO ports, oscillator, ADC(Analog to digital converter) etc on a single chip with the program(software) and data stored in ROM.

Unlike a PC, PDA and smartphones that uses huge CPU processing power, RAM, ROM, disk drives etc. a microcontroller has all above features on a small scale which is enough to do functions like, displaying characters on LCD and LED display, controlling a relay, provide oscillation of any kind of waveform in an inverter or UPS circuit driving a motor, stepper motor and servo for robotics and industry automations, communicating with phones, modules or computer via RS232, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wifi and also reading signals from transducers like LDR, thermistors, humidity sensors, magnetometer direction sensor etc. this small scale function makes it cheaper, and makes embedded systems application smaller, lighter, power efficient, and cost effective.
Virtually all appliances that have a digital interface –watches, microwaves, calculators, air conditioner, sound systems, ATM machine, DVD, VCRs etc utilize embedded systems. Some embedded systems which requires higher processing power may include an operating system such as the ATM machine, but many embedded systems are so specialized that the entire logic can be implemented as a single program which means it does not need a special operating system, the necessary application software and operating software are written together in a single program.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS:
• Embedded systems perform a very specific task but can be programmed to do different things simultaneously if those tasks do not require much processing speed.
• It is a replacement for discrete logic-based circuits, and also some analog circuit like voltage comparators and the likes.
• It provides functional upgrade of equipment because the software can be reprogrammed up to 100,000 times.
• Improves mechanical performance i.e it provides precise control of mechanical systems such as a stepper motor or servo motor used in building a robot.
• Protection of intellectual property. An embedded system contains both the hard ware and the software. The hardware can be easily copied and duplicated but the microcontroller system offers software code protection which offers protection of the software against piracy.
• They are efficient, size and cost effective in their various applications because every component such as processor, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, IO ports are done on a small scale mostly in a single chip but with just few addition of peripherals like Clock controller, ADC, DAC, external RAM, ROM and IO etc to increase its functions.
• Embedded systems have very limited resources, particularly the memory. It has limited IO ports, small processing power, slower speed of operation and thereby might not be suitable for video and audio and high speed applications.
• Generally they do not have secondary devices such as CD-ROM, Floppy Disk.

APPLICATION AREAS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS:
• Consumer Appliances
• Office and home Automation
• Aircraft Electronics
• Medical Electronics
• Advertisement
• Telecommunication
• Robotics
• Laboratories and industrial equipment
• Vehicles
• Decorations
• Entertainment
• Military
• Mechatronics
and many more...
Indeed Embedded systems are very important in our everyday lives.

For further reading check out these books.
http://www.dauniv.ac.in/downloads/EmbsysRevEd_PPTs/Chap01Lesson_1Emsys.pdf
http://www.artist-embedded.org/docs/Events/2006/ChinaSchool/1_ESIntroduction.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system

Watch out for the next tutorial...