SPARK Your Imagination

Microsoft have recently announced the Windows Embedded SPARK Your Imagination program. Essentially it's a low cost bundle of software and hardware for embedded systems development.

Microsoft Embedded is used in a variety of hardware devices from digital cameras to point of sales (POS) machines to digital photo frames.

Retail technology research firm IHL Group has said that Windows dominates the POS market, accounting for two-thirds of the $5.56 billion spent on POS terminals in North America during 2007, and they estimate that in pure embedded systems (those with no hard disk) Windows leads with 90%-95% of the market.

This means that the demand for skilled Windows Embedded developers will further increase and provide employment opportunities for new graduates.