Includes a brief history of word processing in the introduction, comparable to the one in the munday book, although shorter and generally less exact in the information given. Today, the word processor is one of the most frequently used software programs on a computer, with microsoft word being the most popular word processor. Standalone word processors like the wang 2200 fell out of favor in the face of competition from pcs that combined wordprocessing software with spreadsheets and other applications. It is most often used for mediumtolarge technical or scientific documents but it can be used for almost any form of publishing. Except for labels and envelopes, word processing software has long since replaced the electric typewriter. A typewriter whose operation is enhanced through the use of microprocessor. In june 1979, micropro began selling the product under the name wordstar. This article compares early word processing software.
An wangs son, fred, became the company president in 1986 after the elder wang stepped down from that post. A printer may also be used to create a physical copy of the document. Microsoft word, known also just as word is word processing software and a flagship product of microsoft. The most important advance in word processing was the change from hard wired instructions built into the machinery to software on disks. The word processor hardware has been around for literally hundreds of years. Word processors are probably the most used computer software ever. A wordprocessing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost. The final step in word processing came with the advent of the personal computer in the late 1970s and 1980s and with the subsequent creation of word processing software.
A brief history of word processing through 1986 by brian kunde. It includes articles by industry pioneers recording the how these products were developed and marketed as well as articles by computer historians thomas j. What i found is that there were often very surprising examples of evidence remaining, even from these early days of word processing history. Word processing is the process of creating and editing documents on a computer. The vydec word processing system came with a table, printer and diskette readers builtin. It supports the following formats rtf, html, and txt.
In the beginning, there was the word processor zdnet. Floppy disks allowed for the separation between software programs and instructions for the computer and hardware the actual makeup and function of a ocmputer. A 1971 times article referred to the brave new world of word processing or wp. Tim bergin and thomas haigh which provide historical context and interpretation of the events described by the industry. Switch on the hardware and open the word processing software. Microsoft word, word processor software launched in 1983 by the microsoft corporation. Find out how document collaboration and editing tools can help polish your word docs learn how microsoft uses ads to create a more customized online experience tailored for you.
My first computer word processing software was appleworks, on an. The best free word processing software app downloads for windows. Word processing systems that would create much more complex and capable text were developed and prices began to fall, making them more accessible to the public. It is also known as a document preparation system it is a programme where you can type and print documents it has replaced the old typewriters then now.
A word processor is software or a device that allows users to create, edit, and print documents. The origins of word processing software for personal. Created using powtoon free sign up at youtube create animated videos and animated presentations for free. A brief timeline of the important happenings in the development of word processing software and office productivity suites. Dec, 2015 this issue is focused on the products, companies, and people who produced the early word processing software products. This table gives a comparison of what operating systems are compatible with each word processor in 1985. They have been around since the beginning of the computer, in all kind of different designs. It enables you to write text, store it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it. A brief history of word processing through 1986 by brian. A word processor wp is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing. It could hold text for word processing as well as other software for computers. Software is a recent development in human history, and it is fundamental to the information age.
Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriters, although handwritten input see penbased computer and audio input as for dictation devices have been introduced. The final step in word processing came with the advent of the personal computer in the. In fact, its estimated that word is running on more than a billion devices worldwide. Word processing software is used to manipulate a text document, such as a resume or a report. For example, a student could create a book report in a word processor application. Their word processors, manufactured by am jacquard systems and in operation at stanwick since 1978, have significantly reduced time required to handle. Close all documents and software, then shutdown turnoff all hardware. It is an integral part of the microsoft office suite of products and is the most widelyused word processor in the world. A computer used for creating, storing and printing text. Software developers richard brodie and charles simonyi joined the microsoft team in 1981, and in 1983 they released multitool word for computers that ran a version of the unix operating system os. It allows a user to create documents that mimic the format and style of a typical typewriter.
Since electric pencil first debuted in 1976, more than 400 other word processing packages have emerged, most fading into oblivion. The next logical step in the development of word processing was the application of electricity. In the 1960s, a word processor was a standalone office machine with a keyboard, printer, electric typewriter, and a recording unit. What i found is that there were often very surprising examples of evidence remaining, even. Wordstar complete history of wordstar word processor. Processing systems that would create much more complex and capable text were developed and prices began to fall, making them more accessible to the public. This article recounts the history of microcomputer word processing software focuses on three of the earliest word processing software packages, electric pencil, easywriter, and. How software changed the world maintenance software. Word processors can be distinguished from several other, related forms of software. The history of word processors the tech ninjas dojo. All about the unusual history of microsoft windows. You typically enter text by typing, and the software provides tools for.
Use microsoft word for the best word processing and document creation. Gives little on the evolution of specific software systems. By 1971 it was recognized by the new york times as a buzz word. Latex, which is pronounced lahtech or laytech to rhyme with blech or bertolt brecht, is a document preparation system for highquality typesetting. Sep 16, 2018 16 things you didnt know about microsoft word here are some fun facts you might not know about everyones favourite wordprocessing software. While there were earlier word processors, electric pencil, wordstar was. Dec 16, 2018 sometimes abbreviated as wp, a word processor is a software program capable of creating, storing, and printing typed documents. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. Although thomas edison patented an electric typewriter as early as 1872, it was. However, by the late 1980s, programs like wordperfect knocked wordstar out of the word processing market after the poor performance of wordstar 2000. Mar 09, 2012 in the beginning, there was the word processor. Word processing, operation by which written, verbal, or recorded information is transformed into typewritten or printed form. A word processor wp is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting and output of text, often with some additional features early word processors were standalone devices dedicated to the function, but current word processors are word processor programs running on general purpose computers.
Within three years, wordstar was the most popular word processing software in the world. Briefly describe the meaning of the term word processing. The term word processing was invented by ibm in the late 1960s. Jun 30, 2016 in fact, as matthew kirschenbaum points out in his unexpectedly engaging history of word processing, it was deightons sedulous assistant ellenor handley who did most of the typing until 1968. History of word processing by sharmaine purugganan on prezi. A word processing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost.
They have been around since the beginning of the computer, in all kind of different. Then, the student could print it, save it to a disk, display it on the screen, or send it over email. How to write a history of writing software the atlantic. Word processing software for windows free downloads and. Word processing software on computers all but eliminated much of this tedium, and it has been estimated that a secretary.
Pdf the origins of word processing software for personal. A brief history of word processing through 1986 by. This article recounts the history of microcomputer word processing software focuses on three of the earliest word processing software packages, electric pencil, easywriter, and wordstar, which. Word processing software technology allows our communities to move and think faster.
Title bar displays the name of the currently active word document. Jun 29, 2016 how to write a history of writing software. Reflective of our society, the internet and related software have excelled the speed of writing too. Software is programmed instructions stored in the memory of storedprogram digital computers for execution by the processor. You typically enter text by typing, and the software provides tools for copying, deleting and various. Word processors can be used to create multiple types of files. Evolution of word processing timeline timetoast timelines. Find out how document collaboration and editing tools can help polish your word docs. This article recounts th the origins of word processing software for personal computers. Below is the table, describing parts of word windows.
You can apply various types of formatting to your text, add graphics and tables to your documents. Learn about the origins of word processing, and the rising wordstar. Software used on a computer to perform word processing. The following is a list of notable word processors. It requires a computer and word processing software. True, the written word is at the top of its popularity thus far in history, as the latest technologies still. In this article i give a quick overview of the most popular word processors since the 80s remember its just a selection, there has been lots and lots of more word processing software. Not long after that came the software innovations brought by xerox, apple, microsoft, star, ibm, etc. Demonstrate correct posture while using a keyboard. A word processor more formally a document preparation system is a.
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