EKA1 (EPOC Kernel Architecture 1) is the first-generation

kernel Kernel may refer to: Computing * Kernel (operating system), the central component of most operating systems * Kernel (image processing), a matrix used for image convolution * Compute kernel, in GPGPU programming * Kernel method, in machine learnin ...

for the

operating system An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also in ...

Symbian Symbian is a discontinued mobile operating system A mobile operating system is an operating system for mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, smartglasses, or other non-laptop personal mobile computing devices. While computers such as typic ...

OS. EKA1 originated in the earlier operating system EPOC. It offers preemptive

computer multitasking In computing, multitasking is the concurrent execution of multiple tasks (also known as processes) over a certain period of time. New tasks can interrupt already started ones before they finish, instead of waiting for them to end. As a result ...

and memory protection, but no

real-time computing Real-time computing (RTC) is the computer science term for hardware and software systems subject to a "real-time constraint", for example from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within specified time constrai ...

guarantees, and a single- threaded

device driver In computing, a device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer or automaton. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabling operating systems and ot ...

model. It was largely been superseded by

EKA2 EKA2 (EPOC Kernel Architecture 2) is the second-generation Symbian platform real-time operating system Kernel (operating system), kernel, which originated in the earlier operating system EPOC (operating system), EPOC. EKA2 began with a proprieta ...

. Much of EKA1 was developed by a single software engineer, Colly Myers, when he was working for Psion Software in the early 1990s. Myers went on to act as CEO for

Ltd., when it was formed to license this kernel and associated operating system to

mobile phone A mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, cellphone, handphone, hand phone or pocket phone, sometimes shortened to simply mobile, cell, or just phone, is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link whil ...

makers. He is now CEO of Issuebits Ltd.

See also