Difference between Computer and Embedded System
1. Computer :
A computer is a combination of hardware and software resources which integrate together and provides various functionalities to the user.
2. Embedded Device :
An embedded device is a part of an integrated system which is formed as an combination of computer hardware and software for a specific function and which can operate without human interaction.
Difference between Computer and Embedded System :
| S. No. | Category | Computer | Embedded device |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 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 which is formed as an combination of computer hardware and software for a specific function and which can operate without human interaction. |
| 2. | Human Interaction | A computer needs Human Interaction to perform tasks. | Embedded device does not need Human Interaction to perform tasks. |
| 3. | 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 |
| 4. | Parts | It has 2 parts: Hardware and Software. | It has 3 parts: Hardware, Firmware and Software. |
| 5. | Tasks | It can perform many tasks. | It performs limited tasks. |
| 6. | Cost to user | The user has to pay more for a computer. | The user incurs lesser cost for an embedded system. |
| 7. | 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. |
| 8. | Purpose | Computers can be reprogrammed to for a new purpose. | Embedded Devices are made only for a specific set of purposes. |
| 9. | Power Consumption | Computer needs more operational power than Embedded Devices. | Embedded Device needs lesser operational power than a Computer. |
| 10. | Complexity | Computers are more complex devices than Embedded Devices. | Embedded Devices are less complex devices than Computers. |
| 11. | Need of another device | Computers may be installed in other devices but are self-sufficient to exist. | Embedded Devices only exist inside other Systems. |
| 12. | Usage Difficulty | Computers are more Difficult when used, compared to an Embedded System. | Embedded are easier to use than Computers. |
| 13. | User Interfaces | It requires more user interface than Embedded Devices. | It requires lesser to no user interface than Computers. |
| 14. | 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. |
| 15. | 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. |
| 16. | Developed in | 1965 A.D. | 1833 A.D. |
| 17. | Developer | Charles Stark Draper | Charles Babbage |
| 18. | Memory Requirement | Computers have larger memory requirement due to a lot of storage of data. | Embedded Devices need lesser Memory. |
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