This document provides an overview of the history and evolution of word processing from the first mechanical typewriters and early computers through modern word processing software. It traces the development of key terms like "word processing" being coined by IBM in the 1960s. Major programs and innovations discussed include the IBM Selectric typewriter, Wang word processors, early DOS word processors like WordPerfect 5.1, and the transitions of Microsoft Word to graphical user interfaces and cloud-based processing.

1. Fall 2012
Word Processing

2. 2
Word Processing?
• What is Word Processing Anyway?
– Word Processing: Word Processing is the
use of computers to prepare documents.
– A word processor generally refers to a
WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get")
system where the formatting takes place
while you enter your text; no further
processing is needed prior to sending
your work to a printer. Word and
WordPerfect and other similar personal
computer packages are examples of word
processors.

3. 3
First Word Processor?

4. 4
The first mechanical word
processor
• The typewriter
– The concept of a typewriter dates back at
least to 1714, when Englishman Henry Mill
filed a vaguely-worded patent for "an
artificial machine or method for the
impressing or transcribing of letters
singly or progressively one after another.―
– Numerous inventors in Europe and the U.S.
worked on typewriters in the 19th century,
but successful commercial production began
only with the "writing ball" of Danish
pastor Malling Hansen (1870). This well-
engineered device looked rather like a
pincushion.
•

5. 5
Why the QWERTY?
• ...the Universal User Interface....
– The name "QWERTY" for our typewriter keyboard
comes from the first six letters in the top
alphabet row (the one just below the numbers).
It is also called the "Universal" keyboard for
rather obvious reasons. It was the work of
inventor C. L. Sholes, who put together the
prototypes of the first commercial typewriter in
a Milwaukee machine shop back in the 1860's.
– The keyboard arrangement was considered
important enough to be included on
Sholes' patent granted in 1878
(see drawing), some years after the
machine was into production.
• Consider QWERTY...

6. 6
The IBM Selectric

7. 7
But when were they called
word processors? See Wikipedia
the original
article on Word
• Term coined by IBM Processor!
– The term word processing
was invented by IBM in the late 1960s.
By 1971 it was recognized by the New
York Times as a "buzz word". A 1971
Times article referred to "the brave new
world of Word Processing or W/P. That's
International Business Machines talk...
I.B.M. introduced W/P about five years
ago for its Magnetic Selectric
typewriter and other electronic razzle-
dazzle.―
• History of Word Processors
See also:

8. 8
Then there was the Wang
• Beloved of Wangers!
– The machine still looked like a computer,
that‘s for sure. But who cared? It was silent.
It magically knew when to start a new line –
no mental arithmetic and wrenching of a lever
to tell the paper to move up. It didn‘t matter
how many mistakes you made – you simply typed
over them. Tippex became redundant. If Mr
Harris wanted to make multiple changes to a
60-page document, it was a simple operation,
no need to retype the whole thing. There were
keys that instantly found the word
you were looking for; went to a
particular page number, replaced
multiple instances of words.
• On being a Wanger
•

9. 9

10. 10
an early PC Word Processor:
No Mouse!

11. 11
A Very Popular DOS Word
Processor
The all-time
favorite version
of WordPerfect
was probably
version 5.1,
which was
released in 1989.
− #9
WordPerfect 5.1
by Ernest Schaal
in Stuff Lawyers
Like

12. 12
Microsoft Word: from DOS to
Windows

13. 13
The evolution of Word 2002-2010
Word XP
Word
2003
Word
2007
Word
2010

14. 14
More on the evolution of Word
and the changes in Word 2007
• The Why of the New UI (Part 1)
• Ye Olde Museum Of Office Past (Why
the UI, Part 2)
– See MSDN Blogs > Jensen Harris: An
Office User Interface Blog

15. 15
New features in Word 2007
• The Microsoft Office Button
• The Quick Access Toolbar
Customizable
• The Ribbon
– Microsoft Word Training:
Lesson 1: Getting Familiar with Microsoft Word
2007 for Windows

16. 16
New features in Word 2010
• No button!
– In most of the Microsoft Office 2010 programs
the Office Button (which was only introduced in
Office 2007), has been replaced with a File
menu. This is not the same as the File menu in
Office 2003. This new File Menu leads in to the
Microsoft Office Backstage™ view which not only
shows the popular functions of Open, Save, Save
As, Print etc… but also the recently view files
section has been enhanced to include a recent
locations too.
• Read more at Suite101: Microsoft Word 2010
http://www.suite101.com/content/the-new-functions-
of-microsoft-word-2010-a261963#ixzz0zFgrSb9g

17. 17
Changes in File Extensions
• From .doc to .docx
– The standard file extension for Microsoft Word 2003
is .doc. When Microsoft launched Office 2007, users
found that documents produced in Word would by
default save with a new extension known as .docx.
Documents can still be saved in the previous version
format of .doc by clicking ―Word 97-2003 Document‖
from the Save As menu. Whilst the change did not
pose considerable harm to documents, if users were
sending their work electronically, they had to
anticipate whether the recipient was able to open it
in the new format.
Read more at Suite101: PC File Extensions Explained:
Keeping up to Speed with the Different Document
Saving Formats http://www.suite101.com/content/pc-
file-extensions-explained-a214044#ixzz0zFjh3Zs3

18. 18
Office 2013 is almost here!
• Word 2013 Preview
– First, the interface. Word 2013 draws heavily
from the visual language of Metro—that means
most of the Windows chrome has been sandblasted
off the interface. The ribbon bars are still
there, though you can hide them if you don‘t
want to see them, especially if you‘re on a
touch device. You can get away with hiding much
of the Word interface because of contextual
menus.
• First look: Word 2013
by Sean Gallagher - July 16 2012, 2:00pm CDT

19. 19
Word 2013 Preview
• Like, but unlike: based on Windows 8

20. 20
A free alternative to Word
• Open Office
Oracle gives
OpenOffice to
Apache
June 1, 2011

21. 21
Word processing in the clouds
• What Is 'Cloud Computing'?
– "Cloud Computing" is a somewhat nebulous
word to describe users "renting" or
borrowing online software instead of
actually purchasing and installing it on
their own computers.
– All of the processing work and file saving
will be done "in the cloud" of the
Internet, and the users will plug into that
cloud every day to do their computer work.
– See also
―Software via the Internet:
Microsoft in ‗Cloud‘ Computing‖

22. 22
The Google ―Cloud‖
• Google docs
http://docs.google.com

23. 23
The Microsoft version
• Skydrive on Windows Live

24. 24
A 2010 conclusion:
or is it more 1990?