History Word processor

1 history

1.1 ibm selectric
1.2 mainframe systems
1.3 effect on office administration
1.4 dedicated models
1.5 software models
1.6 wysiwyg models

history

word processors descended friden flexowriter, had 2 punched tape stations , permitted switching 1 other (thus enabling called chain or form letter , 1 tape containing names , addresses, , other body of letter sent). did not wrap words, begun ibm s magnetic tape selectric typewriter (later, magnetic card selectric typewriter).

ibm selectric

a 4-user astrotype system using dec pdp minicomputer , ibm selectric terminals.

the ibm selectric typewriter highly successful model line of electric typewriters introduced in 1961. expensive typewriter, written , improved between 1961 , 1962 steve piner , l. peter deutsch, text editing program ran on dec pdp-1 computer @ mit. since drive ibm selectric typewriter (a letter-quality printer), may considered first word processing program, term word processing introduced, ibm s böblingen laboratory in late 1960s.

in 1969, 2 software based text editing products (astrotype , astrocomp) developed , marketed information control systems (ann arbor michigan). both products used digital equipment corporation pdp-8 mini computer, dectape (4” reel) randomly accessible tape drives, , modified version of ibm selectric typewriter (the ibm 2741 terminal). these 1969 products preceded crt display-based word processors. text editing done using line numbering system viewed on paper copy inserted in selectric typewriter.

by 1971 word processing recognized new york times buzz word . 1974 times article referred brave new world of word processing or w/p. s international business machines talk... i.b.m. introduced w/p 5 years ago magnetic tape selectric typewriter , other electronic razzle-dazzle.

ibm defined term in broad , vague way combination of people, procedures, , equipment transforms ideas printed communications, , used include dictating machines , ordinary, manually operated selectric typewriters. seventies, however, term understood mean semiautomated typewriters affording @ least form of editing , correction, , ability produce perfect originals. thus, times headlined 1974 xerox product speedier electronic typewriter , went on describe product, had no screen, word processor rather strictly typewriter, in stores copy on magnetic tape or magnetic cards retyping, corrections, , subsequent printout.

mainframe systems

in late 1960s ibm provided program called format generating printed documents on computer capable of running fortran iv. written gerald m. berns, format described in paper description of format, text-processing program (communications of acm, volume 12, number 3, march, 1969) production program facilitates editing , printing of finished documents directly on printer of relatively small (64k) computer system. features performance, totally free-form input, flexible formatting capabilities including 8 columns per page, automatic capitalization, aids index construction, , minimum of nontext [control elements] items. input on punched cards or magnetic tape, 80capital letters , non-alphabetic characters per card. limited typographical controls available implemented control sequences; example, letters automatically converted lower case unless followed full stop, is, period character. output printed on typical line printer in all-capitals — or in upper , lower case using special ( tn ) printer chain — or punched paper tape printed, in better line printer quality, on flexowriter. workalike program improvements, dormat, developed , used @ university college london.

electromechanical paper-tape-based equipment such friden flexowriter had long been available; flexowriter allowed operations such repetitive typing of form letters (with pause operator manually type in variable information), , when equipped auxiliary reader, perform version of mail merge . circa 1970 began feasible apply electronic computers office automation tasks. ibm s mag tape selectric typewriter (mt/st) , later mag card selectric (mcst) devices of kind, allowed editing, simple revision, , repetitive typing, one-line display editing single lines. first novel written on word processor, ibm mt/st, len deighton s bomber, published in 1970.

effect on office administration

the new york times, reporting on 1971 business equipment trade show, said

the buzz word year s show word processing, or use of electronic equipment, such typewriters; procedures , trained personnel maximize office efficiency. @ ibm exhibition girl typed on electronic typewriter. copy received on magnetic tape cassette accepted corrections, deletions, , additions , produced perfect letter boss s signature....

in 1971, third of working women in united states secretaries, , see word processing affect careers. manufacturers, according times article, urged concept of word processing answer women s lib advocates prayers. word processing replace traditional secretary , give women new administrative roles in business , industry.

the 1970s word processing concept did not refer merely equipment, but, explicitly, use of equipment breaking down secretarial labor distinct components, staff members handling typing exclusively while others supply administrative support. typical operation leave executives without private secretaries. instead 1 secretary perform various administrative tasks 3 or more secretaries. 1971 article said [secretaries] see w/p career ladder management; others see dead-end automated ghetto; others predict lead straight picket line. national secretaries association, defined secretaries people can assume responsibility without direct supervision, feared w/p transform secretaries space-age typing pools. article considered organizational changes resulting secretaries operating word processors rather typewriters; possibility word processors might result in managers creating documents without intervention of secretaries not considered—not surprising in era when few managers, secretaries, possessed keyboarding skills.

dedicated models

in 1972, stephen bernard dorsey, founder , president of canadian company automatic electronic systems (aes), introduced world’s first programmable word processor video screen. real breakthrough dorsey’s aes team machine stored operator’s texts on magnetic disks. texts retrieved disks entering names @ keyboard. more importantly, text edited, instance paragraph moved new place, or spelling error corrected, , these changes recorded on magnetic disk.

the aes machine sophisticated computer, reprogrammed changing instructions contained within few chips.

in 1975, dorsey started micom data systems , introduced micom 2000 word processor. micom 2000 improved on aes design using intel 8080 single-chip microprocessor, made word processor smaller, less costly build , supported multiple languages.

around time, deltadata , wang word processors appeared, again video screen , magnetic storage disk.

the competitive edge dorsey s micom 2000 that, unlike many other machines, programmable. micom machine countered problem of obsolescence avoiding limitations of hard-wired system of program storage. micom 2000 utilized ram, mass-produced , totally programmable. micom 2000 said year ahead of time when introduced marketplace represented pretty serious competition such ibm, xerox , wang laboratories.

in 1978, micom partnered dutch multinational philips , dorsey grew micom s sales position number 3 among major word processor manufacturers, behind ibm , wang.

software models

toshiba jw-10, first word processor japanese language (1971–1978 ieee milestones)

in 1970s, computer scientist harold koplow hired wang laboratories program calculators. 1 of programs permitted wang calculator interface ibm selectric typewriter, @ time used calculate , print paperwork auto sales.

in 1974, koplow s interface program developed wang 1200 word processor, ibm selectric-based text-storage device. operator of machine typed text on conventional ibm selectric; when return key pressed, line of text stored on cassette tape. 1 cassette held 20 pages of text, , played (i.e., text retrieved) printing contents on continuous-form paper in 1200 typewriter s print mode. stored text edited, using keys on simple, six-key array. basic editing functions included insert, delete, skip (character, line), , on.

the labor , cost savings of device immediate, , remarkable: pages of text no longer had retyped correct simple errors, , projects worked on, stored, , retrieved use later on. rudimentary wang 1200 machine precursor of wang office information system (ois), introduced in 1976. true office machine, affordable organizations such medium-sized law firms, , learned , operated secretarial staff.

the wang not first crt-based machine nor of innovations unique wang. in 1970s linolex, lexitron , vydec introduced pioneering word-processing systems crt display editing. canadian electronics company, automatic electronic systems, had introduced product in 1972, went receivership year later. in 1976, refinanced canada development corporation, returned operation aes data, , went on market brand of word processors worldwide until demise in mid-1980s. first office product, aes-90, combined first time crt-screen, floppy-disk , microprocessor, is, same winning combination used ibm pc 7 years later. aes-90 software able handle french , english typing start, displaying , printing texts side-by-side, canadian government requirement. first 8 units delivered office of prime minister, pierre elliot trudeau, in february 1974. despite these predecessors, wang s product standout, , 1978 had sold more of these systems other vendor.

the phrase word processor rapidly came refer crt-based machines similar aes 90. numerous machines of kind emerged, typically marketed traditional office-equipment companies such ibm, lanier (marketing aes data machines, re-badged), cpt, , nbi. specialized, dedicated, proprietary systems, prices in $10,000 ballpark. cheap general-purpose computers still domain of hobbyists.

some of earliest crt-based machines used cassette tapes removable-memory storage until floppy diskettes became available purpose - first 8-inch floppy, 5¼-inch (drives shugart associates , diskettes dysan).

printing of documents accomplished using ibm selectric typewriters modified ascii-character input. these later replaced application-specific daisy wheel printers, first developed diablo, became xerox company, , later qume. quicker draft printing, dot-matrix line printers optional alternatives word processors.

wysiwyg models

examples of standalone word processor typefaces c. 1980–1981



brother wp-1400d editing electronic typewriter (1994)

electric pencil, released in december 1976, first word processor software microcomputers. software-based word processors running on general-purpose personal computers gradually displaced dedicated word processors, , term came refer software rather hardware. programs modeled after particular dedicated wp hardware. multimate, example, written insurance company had hundreds of typists using wang systems, , spread there other wang customers. adapt smaller, more generic pc keyboard, multimate used stick-on labels , large plastic clip-on template remind users of dozens of wang-like functions, using shift, alt , ctrl keys 10 ibm function keys , many of alphabet keys.

other word-processing software required users memorize semi-mnemonic key combinations rather pressing keys labelled copy or bold . (in fact, many pcs lacked cursor keys; wordstar famously used e-s-d-x-centered diamond cursor navigation, , modern vi-like editors encourage use of hjkl navigation.) however, price differences between dedicated word processors , general-purpose pcs, , value added latter software such visicalc, compelling personal computers , word processing software became serious competition dedicated machines. word processing became popular use personal computers, , unlike spreadsheet (dominated lotus 1-2-3) , database (dbase) markets, wordperfect, xywrite, microsoft word, pfs:write, , dozens of other word processing software brands competed in 1980s; pc magazine reviewed 57 different programs in 1 january 1986 issue. development of higher-resolution monitors allowed them provide limited wysiwyg—what see get, extent typographical features bold , italics, indentation, justification , margins approximated on screen.

the mid-to-late 1980s saw spread of laser printers, typographic approach word processing, , of true wysiwyg bitmap displays multiple fonts (pioneered xerox alto computer , bravo word processing program), postscript, , graphical user interfaces (another xerox parc innovation, gypsy word processor commercialised in xerox star product range). standalone word processors adapted getting smaller , replacing crts small character-oriented lcd displays. models had computer-like features such floppy disk drives , ability output external printer. got name change, being called electronic typewriters , typically occupying lower end of market, selling under $200 usd.

during late 1980s , 1990s predominant word processing program wordperfect. had more 50% of worldwide market late 1995, 2000 microsoft word had 95% market share.

macwrite, microsoft word, , other word processing programs bit-mapped apple macintosh screen, introduced in 1984, first true wysiwyg word processors become known many people until introduction of microsoft windows. dedicated word processors became museum pieces.