Word Processing

Abstract

Word processing has developed rapidly since the middle of the 1970s though it had its beginnings much earlier. Its present progress has been largely due to the advances in electronic technology, particularly the development of the silicon chip, of smaller and more efficient magnetic storage methods and the invention of the daisy-wheel (or type-wheel) and other rapid printing elements. The silicon chip and the newer and more convenient forms of magnetic storage were first applied to the computer, particularly mini- and micro-computers, for conventional data processing and it was inevitable that these advances should be taken up by those interested in automatic typing to widen and speed up the operating capacity of their equipment.