Word processor

A word processor (WP) is a device or computer program that helps people write, change, and make text look nice. It lets you type words, fix mistakes, and change how the text looks before you share it.

In the past, early word processors were special machines made just for writing. Today, most word processors are programs that run on everyday computers like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Only a few special machines are made just for writing now.

Word processor programs do more than just simple writing. They are better than a basic text editor but not as advanced as programs used for making books and magazines, called desktop publishing programs. Over time, many word processor programs have added new features that make them almost as powerful as desktop publishing programs.

Some popular word processor programs that many people use today are LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word. These programs help people write letters, stories, reports, and many other kinds of documents easily.

Background

Word processors started as simple machines and later joined with computers. Their history shows how writing and editing became easier and more advanced over time.

The idea of "word processing" began in American offices in the early 1970s. It aimed to help people type more efficiently, and later it changed to mean making the whole editing process automatic.

At first, these tools were special machines, but they later became programs on computers. The idea came from using computers to help with business tasks, which had been happening since the 1950s.

There have been three main types of word processors: mechanical, electronic, and software.

Mechanical word processing

The first device for writing letters, similar to a typewriter, was created in 1714 by Henry Mill. Over a hundred years later, another inventor, William Austin Burt, also made a device for writing. In the late 1800s, Christopher Latham Sholes invented the first typewriter, which was called a "literary piano."

These early machines could only change where letters appeared on the page or fill in empty spaces. It wasn’t until electricity and electronics were added to typewriters that things got easier for writers. The name "word processing" may have been invented in the 1950s by a German sales executive or an American typewriter leader, but it didn’t become common until the 1970s. By then, many office managers knew about it.

Electromechanical and electronic word processing

In the late 1960s, IBM created a special machine called the IBM MT/ST. It was built around an IBM Selectric typewriter and included tools for recording and playing back text on magnetic tape. This machine let users edit and share documents by sending tapes to others. Soon, these tapes were replaced with small magnetic cards that could store text.

During the 1960s and 1970s, word processing started changing from simple typewriters with extra features to special computers made just for writing. Before personal computers existed, IBM invented the floppy disk. In the 1970s, the first true word-processing systems appeared, allowing people to see and change documents on CRT screens.

Many companies made these early word processors. Linolex Systems, started in 1970, used microprocessors and floppy disks. By 1975, they had sold 3 million units. Lexitron Corporation was the first to use a full-sized screen in its machines by 1978 and used special disks that became standard for computers. Vydec made the first modern text processor in 1973, which could share and print documents. The Redactron Corporation, started by Evelyn Berezin in 1969, also made editing tools and word processors. Wang Laboratories created a popular system in the 1970s and early 1980s that worked like modern word processors. These machines cost around $10,000 and were used by offices instead of just hobbyists.

Japanese word processor devices

In Japan, typewriters with the Japanese writing system were used for businesses and governments, but they were hard to use because they needed many different symbols. People often used mimeographing instead of typewriters for small printing jobs.

Unlike countries that used the Latin alphabet, Japan had to deal with more complex characters and ways to input kanji. This made it hard to develop word processors at first. But once they were created, Japanese people liked them a lot. In Japan during the 20th century, many people went straight from handwriting and mimeographing to using special word processors, and then to using word processing software on personal computers—without ever using typewriters.

In May 1977, Sharp showed a prototype of a computer-based word processor for Japanese writing. Later, in February 1979, Toshiba released the first Japanese word processor called JW-10. It cost 6,300,000 JPY, which was about US$45,000 at the time. This was chosen as one of the important milestones of IEEE.

In September 1979, Sharp released its first commercial word processor, WD-3000. It used a pen tablet system instead of a keyboard and included an inkjet printer. It cost 2,950,000 JPY.

In 1985, Casio surprised everyone by showing the Casio Word HW-100 for just 59,800 yen. Soon after, Canon introduced the PW-10E for 49,800 yen. Prices dropped quickly, leading to a boom in personal word processors.

By the late 1980s, these word processors became small enough to carry around. They were popular with small businesses and individuals. They had keyboards, small LCD screens, and could print, edit, and proofread text. Over time, they added more features like drawing pictures, printing postcards, and even doing simple spreadsheets.

Even though personal computers were becoming popular, dedicated word processors stayed useful in Japan for a while. They were easy to use right away, had printers built in, and some had special keyboards that made typing in Japanese easier.

But in the 1990s, as personal computers became cheaper and better, and as people wanted to get online, dedicated word processors lost popularity. By 2003, companies stopped making them.

Many people still remember these old word processors fondly. Some still use them because they like how easy and reliable they are. However, it has become harder to keep them working because parts are hard to find and the machines can break down over time.

Word processing software

The final step in word processing came with personal computers in the late 1970s and 1980s, leading to the creation of word processing software. These programs could create more complex documents and became affordable for everyone. By the late 1970s, they were mainly used by businesses, but soon became available for home use. The functions of these programs are between simple text editors and desktop publishing tools, and they have added many advanced features over time.

The first known word processing program was Electric Pencil, released in 1976, designed to help programmers write documentation. It included basic formatting and could work with devices like printers. Other programs like EasyWriter and WordStar followed. WordStar is often credited as the first WYSIWYG editor, meaning what you see on the screen is what you get in print. As more programs entered the market, they added features and lowered prices to compete. Innovations like laser printers and graphical user interfaces made word processing easier and more popular. Today, many people use online tools like Google Docs for word processing, which work on many devices and allow multiple people to edit documents together in real time.