Ever since the development of the electronic computer, we have shot up the development curve. Instead of a single, large computer tied to a teletype machine for input and output, we now use interdependent systems, connected over networks, capable of sending, receiving, and processing data from around the world. In essence, the mainframe computer serves as the brain for these complex networks, with PCs acting as gateways between the mainframe and the embedded systems generating data. While microprocessors lie at the heart of the computers that handle most of the communications and control functions, microcontrollers dominate the embedded applications.
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