Word processing

History of word processing

Word processing developed as specialised programs on mainframe computers during the 1970s as online computing with the use of personal terminal devices having keyboards and display screens became more common. These programs evolved from text based editors used by programmers and computer professionals. Microprocessors and, in the late 1970s, the ability to place intelligent devices on the desks of workers at reasonable cost including cheaper and smaller printers, led to the introduction of machines dedicated to "word processing". These were primarily aimed at typists, particularly those in centralised typing pools where other workers sent handwritten notes or dictaphone tapes to be transcribed into documents that could be printed and returned for reviewing. Considerable time saving economies were achieved by word processing operators. This resulted from:

• the faster typing speeds achieved by as a result of electronic keyboards
• the assistance of the word processing software for functions like layout and spell checking....

Commercial evolution

This evolution from typing using mechanical devices, to electronic word processing systems, to do-it-yourself PC based packages provided commercial opportunities as well as pitfalls. Companies rose, grew strong, and then declined and even disappeared as a result of the fast changes that occurred. Perhaps the best example of a company that became very successful due to specialised word processing systems was Wang Computers. Wang collapsed when it lost its revenue from word processing systems and was not able to substitute newer forms of computing quickly enough. Olivetti is another company that struggled to migrate from mechanical typewriter devices to word processing systems and then to PC computing.