What is word processing?

WORD PROCESSING Means using a computer to create,edit and print documents. Word processing is the most common computer application. It was one of the earliest applications for the Personal Computer.
In simple terms - it's an electronic type-writer. In detail - it is a text manipulation program, that allows you to type, move, emphasise, re-position, merge and print text.

History of word processing

Here are some of Dan Bricklin's recollections about the development of Word Processing. Dan helped develop an early Word Processor in the mid-1970's, the WPS-8. It was later sold (in new hardware) as the DECmate.

Word processors evolved from typewriters. The earliest ones were merely electric typewriters with a tape recorder that could be edited. They were first used for automatic typing of letters. Later, they were used to playback material that was typed correctly when corrections were added. The "manual" way, at the time, was to have a typist type something, have it proofread, and then retype it with corrections, hoping that no new errors were introduced with the retyping. The word processor insured that the parts that were left alone did not change.