What is the difference between a machine and a device?

Every machine is a contraption, but not every contraption is a machine. In other words, loosely considered, any tool or implement that is used to achieve a certain end could be thought of as a contraption. So, a spoon could be a contraption, but it can’t be called a machine, unless someone invents a smart spoon that lights up with calorie details, nutritional info, and what not. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is such a thing already.

On the other hand, there are those who argue that certain advanced machines are conscious/sentient, and that they should not be considered “contraptions.” That they should instead be accorded “personhood” and treated accordingly. Others argue that certain machines are advanced enough to pave the way for artificial super intelligence, or the Singularity, a state of consciousness that they believe will be vastly superior to human intelligence. These machines should be treated with due regard and respect, or so the argument goes, if we are to cohabit peacefully with said machines and create something like a climax community instead of a digitally wrought apocalypse.

Soon, it might be considered taboo to treat advanced machines like tools, even if we continue to view some people solely as a means to an end.

A machine is an assembly that does work or creates power.
A device is a smaller subset of a machine.

What I was taught is, that a machine is a contraption that performs mechanical work, like a drill, a vacuum cleaner, or a car.
A device is anything else.

In your search engine you can just type XXXX vs XXXX and you get good concise information.

http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-device-and-machine/

I don’t know but I would add to that mix “appliances” and “electronics”?

What does XXXX, vs XXXX mean?

Doesn’t a machine have to have moving parts? A mechanical (rotary) pencil sharpener is a machine, right? I’d say an old-fashioned manual toothbrush is a device, but an electric toothbrush is a machine.

I don’t think a device is a subset of machines. I think they’d be overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. An analog (windup) watch is a machine, but a digital one is not. A battery-powered watch with internal movement would be both a device and a machine.

XXX v XXX means to type in Machine v Device. Which the OP specifically asked us not to do.

@Jeruba That’s the direction I was thinking as well. I think having some kind of mechanical advantage may be a requirement to be a machine as well, but I’m not sure.

I looked at @SnipSnip‘s link and they’re defining a device as a subset of machines (i.e. all devices are machines, but not all machines are devices). Maybe this is the correct definition, but I can think of many examples of objects I would refer to as devices (perhaps incorrectly). For example, I would consider a boat anchor a device for keeping a boat in place, and I wouldn’t classify the anchor as a machine if it’s not being winched up and down. Another might be a spirit level that I would consider a device, but not a machine.