Changed first line from "Physical computing are..." to "Physical computing involves...". Also considered changing it to "Physical computers are", but decided against it
'''Physical computing''' involves interactive systems that can sense and respond to the world around them.{{clarify|reason=If there is any distinction from an embedded system, mention it here.|date=September 2016}} While this definition is broad enough to encompass systems such as smart automotive traffic [[control system]]s or factory [[automation]] processes, it is not commonly used to describe them. In a broader sense, physical computing is a creative framework for understanding human beings' relationship to the [[Digital data|digital]] world. In practical use, the term most often describes handmade art, design or [[DIY]] hobby projects that use [[sensor]]s and [[microcontroller]]s to translate analog input to a [[software system]], and/or control [[electro-mechanical]] devices such as [[Electric motor|motor]]s, [[Servomechanism|servo]]s, [[lighting]] or other hardware.
Physical Computing intersects the range of activities often referred to in academia and industry as electrical engineering, mechatronics, robotics, computer science, and especially [[Embedded system|embedded development.]]
