Book excerpt: Technology is changing rapidly all the time, and computer science instructors must make sure that they are giving their students the most up-to-the-minute training. For example, while the Motorola 68000 and MIPS processors have long been popular teaching tools in computer engineering courses, the ARM microprocessor is surpassing them in popularity, given its use in both Microsoft's new Surface tablet and in Apple's iPod and iPad. Introduction to Microprocessor Based Systems Using the ARM Processor is one of the first textbooks to address this significant change by covering microprocessor and embedded systems concepts using the ARM microprocessor. Starting with an introduction to microprocessor systems, the text shows how software and hardware interact when instructions are executed. Soon students will be designing their own fully functioning programs, thanks to an introduction to assembly language in chapter 2, followed by data processing instructions in chapter 3, control flow instructions in chapter 4, and load/store instructions in chapter 5. Hardware is addressed in later chapters, and finally the discussion turns to the design of a complete microprocessor based system. Throughout, the author emphasizes fundamental concepts so that students can adapt to future advances in their dynamically changing field. Working their way through this detailed and thoughtful textbook will certainly give students the skills they need to work with the microprocessor based systems of the future.