Difference between Computer and Embedded System
1. Computer: A computer is a combination of hardware and software resources that integrate together and provides various functionalities to the user.that
2. Embedded Device : An embedded device is a part of an integrated system that is formed as a combination of computer hardware and software for a specific function and which can operate without human interaction.
Difference between Computer and Embedded System are as follows:
| Category | Computer | Embedded device |
|---|---|---|
| Description | A computer is a combination of hardware and software resources which integrate together and provides various functionalities to the user. | An embedded device is a part of an integrated system thatAn embedded is formed as an combination of computer hardware and software for a specific function and which can operate without human interaction. |
| Human Interaction | A computer needs Human Interaction to perform tasks. | Embedded device does not need Human Interaction to perform tasks. |
| Types based on architecture | Analog computer, Digital computer, Hybrid computer, Harvard architecture, Von Neumann architecture, Reduced instruction set computer | Small Scale Embedded System, Medium Scale Embedded Systems, Sophisticated or Complex Embedded Systems |
| Parts | It has 2 parts: Hardware and Software. | It has 3 parts: Hardware, Firmware and Software. |
| Tasks | It can perform many tasks. | It performs limited tasks. |
| Cost to user | The user has to pay more for a computer. | The user incurs lesser cost for an embedded system. |
| Peripherals | Computers have peripherals such as keyboard and mouse, display, printer, Hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, optical disc drives etc. | Embedded Devices have peripherals such as Serial Communication Interfaces (SCI), Synchronous Serial Communication Interface, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Multi Media Cards (SD cards, Compact Flash) etc. |
| Purpose | Computers can be reprogrammed to for a new purpose. | Embedded Devices are made only for a specific set of purposes. |
| Power Consumption | Computer needs more operational power than Embedded Devices. | Embedded Device needs lesser operational power than a Computer. |
| Complexity | Computers are more complex devices than Embedded Devices. | Embedded Devices are less complex devices than Computers. |
| Need of another device | Computers may be installed in other devices but are self-sufficient to exist. | Embedded Devices only exist inside other Systems. |
| Usage Difficulty | Computers are more Difficult when used, compared to an Embedded System. | Embedded are easier to use than Computers. |
| User Interfaces | It requires more user interface than Embedded Devices. | It requires lesser to no user interface than Computers. |
| Time Specificity | Computers are not time specific. They may need to perform tasks which are not time bound and take days to perform as well. | Embedded Devices are time specific. The tasks assigned to them need to be performed within a specific time frame. |
| Size | Computers are usually bigger in size with larger hardware and input output devices attached to it. | Embedded Devices are smaller in size than Computers, with limited hardware. |
| Developed in | 1833 A.D. | 1965 A.D. |
| Developer | Charles Babbage | Charles Stark Draper |
| Memory Requirement | Computers have larger memory requirement due to a lot of storage of data. | Embedded Devices need lesser Memory. |
Please Login to comment...