# The Spark Gap - Episode 19

- Show: [The Spark Gap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap)
- Published: 2014-10-22
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19
- Listen: https://thesparkgap.net/the-spark-gap-episode-19

## Summary

Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the architectural trade-offs of placing intelligence in embedded firmware versus host software. They analyze factors such as performance determinism, development speed, security risks, and the user experience of updates, citing Tesla's over-the-air updates as a key example of successful software-driven functionality changes.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19#t=0) Introduction: Firmware vs. Software Intelligence
- [1:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19#t=78) Advantages of Intelligent Firmware
- [14:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19#t=845) Advantages of Host Software Control
- [25:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19#t=1514) Cloud Updates and Consumer Behavior

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Tesla (company)
- Arduino Fermata (product)
- Hackaday (company)
- Google Chrome (product)
- Steam Greenlight (product)
- Kickstarter (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [Does DevOps Make Sense for Embedded Systems?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-01-06-does-devops-make-sense-for-embedded-systems) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [390: Irresponsible At the Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-21-390-irresponsible-at-the-time) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Endless Y2K](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k) (The Amp Hour)
- [#002: The secrets to building secure & scalable OTA infrastructure with Nick Sinas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2024-12-18-002-the-secrets-to-building-secure-scalable-ota-infrastructure-with-nick-sinas) (Coredump Sessions)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-22-the-spark-gap-episode-19. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Spark Gap.