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A word processor is a software application that allows users to create, format, edit, save, and retrieve documents. It has evolved from bulky standalone machines to sophisticated computer programs with features such as spell checkers and voice activation. Microsoft Word is the most installed word processing program in the world.
A word processor is a software application that allows a personal computer user to create, format, edit, save, and retrieve documents. Documents can contain text, numbers, graphics, photographs, or a combination of two or more of these formats. The processor can be installed in a desktop or laptop computer, or be part of both operating system software programs.
Prior to the mid-1980s, the term word processor normally referred to a standalone document preparation system. These somewhat bulky machines, introduced to the public in the 1970s, combined the keyboard functions of an electric typewriter with the memory capabilities in a processor inside the device. A printer was usually attached to the rear of the apparatus. A single-line electronic readout at the bottom of the keyboard allowed the user to view text before printing it. A diskette or memory card inserted in the machine has stored documents for retrieval.
As technology has advanced, the word processor has become more sophisticated. New features were introduced constantly and typically included font directories and formatting capabilities, such as italic, bold, column creation, and pagination. Internal spell checking features were soon added, along with grammar checkers and thesauruses.
As the personal computer was introduced to the public, standalone word processors were quickly replaced with systems composed of separate peripherals connected by cables and data transmission devices. Instead of a machine, people wishing to create documents electronically had to purchase a video monitor, keyboard, mouse and operating system, which was enclosed in a metal cabinet. This cabinet also contained a disk drive into which small cards called floppy disks were inserted for data storage.
Word processing software was initially available from several manufacturing companies. While all of these software programs had similar features, each had unique names for the word processing tools included with the software. As technology advanced, these software companies introduced ever more sophisticated versions with more features and easier accessibility to attract more novice users.
Today’s word processor options include programs suitable for children and those with physical disabilities. Some word processing programs are voice-activated, and others can be operated through joystick manipulation instead of keyboards. Almost all the world’s languages are accessible through various word processing programs.
While several computer word processing programs have been marketed, two have emerged as industry leaders. In the mid-1980s, WordPerfect was the software of choice and held the market leadership until the early 1990s. At that time, Microsoft Word was introduced and became the most installed computer word processing program in the world.
