I hope this is an okay subreddit to put this in, apologies if it is not.

I am taking a programming class on assembly languages though the first few weeks have been C++ review. Well, a current assignment is a 3-5 page research/opinion paper. There is no actual instruction as to what to write about, only saying that this research paper is to help learn in detail about embedded systems.

So, that is what I am trying to do. My bare bones basic understanding is a mix of software and hardware that performs a specific action. That is kind of what most places say but I start to get confused on what does and does not "count" as an embedded system.

Some websites describe it as a system that performs a single action, others say a type of action, and others mention being able to perform multiple actions. A few mention the difference of requiring human interaction vs not needing it. But a computer mouse, which everywhere says is an embedded system, can perform multiple functions and requires human interaction, right?

Then I see that in general a desktop computer is not an embedded system and neither are modern game consoles or cell phones, but older game consoles and cell phones may be. Playstation 1 or older brick phones for example.

Is or can an embedded system made out of...several embedded systems? Or am I thinking too much into what is and is not an embedded system? As I type this I had been thinking of them as the components of an object, but I guess the object it self is what an embedded system is? My microphone is not made of embedded systems, but is an embedded system. Though, that somewhat contradicts what I've read about a timer in a toaster being its own embedded system within the toaster.

Sorry if these things have been asked before or if I am overcomplicating things. While some information is consistent, there seem to be some contested ideas.

EDIT: god I've typed "embedded system" way too much in the last couple of hours