Word processing
Amy Rock Wohl · Encyclopedia of Computer Science · 2003
The term word processing was invented by IBM as a way to market a new product, a Selectric typewriter that could record words on magnetic tape. Characters, punctuation, and some limited formatting instructions, such as tabs, margins, underline, and double space, could be saved on tape as the typist typed them, and then typed out automatically. The recording capability meant that corrections and revisions could be made in the recorded text by re-recording over the original error. It also meant that unlimited perfect copies of the original could be produced, to all appearances personalized and hand-typed, without manually retyping the document.