Final answer:
Supercomputers have the highest processing power, followed by server farms, mainframes, personal computers, embedded processors, and personal digital assistants in descending order. The evolution from large-scale mainframes to widely accessible personal computers was made possible by the development of the integrated microprocessor.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ordering the computer types based on their relative processing power from largest to smallest, we would generally consider the following:
- Supercomputers - They are at the top with the highest processing power. An example includes NASA's Ames Research Center supercomputers.
- Server farms - A large collection of servers that can process large amounts of data and serve multiple applications.
- Mainframes - Powerful computers mainly used by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, and transaction processing.
- Personal computers (PCs) - These are common in homes and offices and are suitable for individual tasks.
- Embedded processors - Found in various electronic devices like cars and appliances, these have enough power to perform specific tasks efficiently.
- Personal digital assistants (PDAs) - These are the smallest in terms of processing power, used mainly for organizing and in some cases, basic communication.
The evolution of computing devices has ranged from large, room-sized mainframes to small, integrated microprocessors that laid the groundwork for the widespread adoption of personal computers. Innovations like the microchip and the microprocessor made computing power more accessible, leading to the proliferation of computer usage in various forms and devices.