1.

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF TYPEWRITER:

Before the invention of Typewriter, the work of writing letters, reports,
documents, court judgments etc. was being done in long hand. To
overcome this lengthy and tiring process of writing documents in long
hand, an effort was made in this direction in Western countries. First
attempt to invent a Typewriter was made by Mr. Henry Mill, an engineer
in England in the year 1714, during the reign of Queen Anne, but he did
not succeed.
Second worthwhile attempt was made by Mr. W.A. Burt of U.S.A. in
1829. He succeeded in producing some kind of a machine which was
known as „Burt Typographer‟. But this machine was not at all perfect.
The model produced by Burt was destroyed in a fire accisdently.
After this, many engineers and mechanics tried to build a typewriter but
they could not produce a successful model. It was in the year 1868,
when Mr. Christopher Lantham Sholes of USA, assisted by Carlos
Glidden and Samuel Soule, succeeded in inventing the first efficient and
practical typewriter. Christopher Lantham Sholes is thus called the
inventor and father of the typewriter.
Sholes later on built various other models during the next six years
making some or the other improvements, but all these models could
type only CAPITAL LETTERS. However, the features of this machine
remained standard in all the machines even today.
After Sholes successfully produced a model of the typewriter, the work
of manufacturing was entrusted to M/s. E. Remington & Sons of U.S.A.,
who produced the first model of the Remington Typewriter in 1874.
This machine looked like a sewing machine. The Remington Company
made various improvements in the machines.
Dr. August Dvorak of Washington designed a modified Keyboard for
typewriter on which one could type for hours together, but somehow
his modified keyboard could not become popular.
Originally, typewriting was done with only two fingers which is known
as Sight method of Typewriting. Till 1877, only the Sight method of
Typewriting was used. In 1878 Mr. Charles McGurin, an American Typist,
introduced Touch Method of Typewriting, which helped the typists to
type without looking at the keyboard with all the fingers of both the
hands.. This created a revolution in the history of the typewriter. Mr.
McGurin demonstrated to the world that he could type at a speed of 90
words per minute on a Remington Typewriter by using the Touch
Method of Typewriting.
Remington Company introduced an additional key in the Keyboard
known as Shift Key. With the help of this key, both capital and lower
capital letters could be typed. Soon after these improvements, the
demand for typewriter increased. To meet the demand, Remington
Company opened their agencies in U.K., India, Australia and some other
countries. The first agency of Typewriters was started in India in 1896
In the meantime some other companies started manufacturing their
makes of typewriters, the major among them being the Underwood
Company, which perfected the first Standard Typewriter in 1896.
In the first quarter of twentieth century, need was felt to manufacture
different categories of typewriters which could meet the requirements
of the typists in different situations. Noiseless Typewriter, which
reduced the noise while typing, was introduced in the market in 1925.
To meet the requirements of those typists who used to travel with their
Officers, Portable Typewriter was introduced in the market in 1931.
The Typewriter Companies introduced an Electric Typewriter which
made its appearance in the market in the year 1938. This enabled the
typists to do more work without getting tired.
So far the typewriters with only English keyboard were available but by
the middle of the Twentieth Century typewriters with keyboards in
different languages including Hindi language came into the market.
Electronic Typewriter is an improved version of Electric Typewriter with
many additional features.
In order to have a quick look at the historical development of the
typewriter, a chart is being given below
Historical Development of the Typewriter
1714 First known Inventor – Henry Mill
1829 Burt Typographer
1868 First practical Typewriter by Christopher Lantham Sholes
1873 The contract to manufacture Typewriters with E. Remington
& Sons
1878 Touch Typewriting by Charles McGurin
1896 First Agency in India of Remington Company
1896 First Standard Typewriter by Underwood Company
1925 Noiseless Typewriter
1931 The first Portable Typewriter
1938 The first Electric Typewriter
By the end of the 1980s, Word Processors and Personal Computers have
largely replaced typewriters in the world. In India, typewriters are being
used only in the areas which do not have computers or where
electricity is not available. Now almost all the typewriting tests are
being held on Computers.

2.IMPORTANCE OF TYPEWRITER/COMPUTER
There are many advantages of using a typewriter/Computer, as given
below:
- Provides jobs to millions of people:
Before the Computers came into existence, the Typewriters have
provided jobs to millions of boys and girls in both the public and private
sectors. Majority of employees in the Government and Private Offices
have been appointed after passing the Typewriting Tests on
Typewriters. Till recently the Staff Selection Commission, which makes
appointments of office staff for the Central Government Offices all over
the country, has been conducting Typewriting Tests on Typewriters. It is
only for the last two years, the typewriting tests are being conducted on
Computers. The typewriting on Computers is also done by using the
Touch Method of Typewriting, which enhances the typewriting speed in
comparison to the persons using the Keyboard with only two fingers of
both the hands.
- It is a desirable Skill:
Typewriting has become a desirable skill like the other professions. It is
learnt not only by the boys and girls desirous of getting jobs but also by
many other persons Executives, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Students,
teachers and business men who use it for doing their personal and
confidential work. Now-a-days the Computers are being used by
everybody.
- It has replaced Pen:
The use of Typewriter/Computer has replaced the Pen which was being
used for writing various documents in longhand, which was time-
consuming and tiring.
- It ensures Speed and Accuracy:
The work on Typewriter/Computer can be done with a much higher
speed in comparison to the work done by Pen. It ensures greater
accuracy.
- It saves time and energy:
The work done on Typewriter/Computer is done at a faster speed
without much effort, it results in the saving of time and energy of its
Operator.
- It produces work which is impressive in look:
Work done on Typewriter/Computer can be read easily and is more
impressive in look when it is properly displayed. Handwritten work
takes longer time and if the handwriting of the person is not good,
sometimes it becomes very difficult to read the handwritten
documents.
- It develops concentration:
One can typewrite accurately only when one works with full
concentration. The habits formed while typing improves concentration
which is an important character trait for doing any other type of work.
- It helps Blind people:
Typewriting can also be learnt by blind persons by using the „Braille‟
Typewriters/Computers which are specially designed for this purpose.
3.CATEGORIES OF TYPEWRITERS
There are the following five categories of typewriters:
Standard Typewriter
Noiseless Typewriter
Portable Typewriter
Electric Typewriter
Electronic Typewrite

4.METHODS OF KEYBOARD OPERATION

Keyboard can be operated by looking and without looking at the
keyboard. The method of operating the keyboard without looking at the
keyboard is called the Touch method of typing and the method of
typing while looking at the keyboard is called the sight method of
typing.
In the early days of invention of the typewriter, only one method of
typewriting was used i.e. „Sight method‟ and the typing used to be
done with the help of one or two fingers of both the hands by looking
at the keyboard. This method was later on substituted with another
method i.e. „Touch Method‟.
Both the typing methods are explained as under:
- Sight Method
The Sight method was the only prevalent method right from the very
beginning when the first typewriter was invented in 1714 till 1878,
when another method of typewriting known as “Touch Method” was
introduced by an American Typist Mr. Charles McGurin.
Sight Method is a common style of typing, in which the typist must find
and press each key individually. This is usually slower than touch typing,
as the typist must find each key by sight. Use of this method may also
prevent the typist from being able to see what has been typed without
glancing away from the keys. Although good accuracy may be achieved,
but the typing errors that are made may not be noticed immediately.
There is also the disadvantage that because fewer fingers (almost
forefingers of both hands) are used, they are forced to move a much
greater distance.
Although learning to typewriter by sight method was an arduous
process, yet students did learn by this method to typewrite with
remarkable speed.
This method is not a scientific one and therefore in the present days,
this method of typewriting is not being used very much. In this method
the typist cannot concentrate on the copy. Though this system is easy to
learn in the beginning, but it is useless for acquiring high speed in
typewriting.
- ADVANTAGES OF SIGHT METHOD OF TYPEWRITING
The advantages of sight method of typewriting are as under:
1.Though unscientific method, but it is very easy to learn without the
help of a teacher. 2.There is no need to learn the keyboard
3.It is really helpful to those people who do not want to appoint the
secretary and want to do the confidential work themselves.
4.There is no need to appoint the Secretary/P.A./Stenographer 5.It is a
very short process and there is no need of concentration.
- DISADVANTAGES OF SIGHT METHOD OS TYPEWRITING
1.As the typing is done only with two forefingers of both the hands,
more time and energy is spent.
2.The typist gets tired by using this method because of the frequent
movement of eyes both on the keyboard and the matter to be typed.
3.All the fingers of both hands are not used, only forefingers of both
hands are used.
4.There are more chances of omission of words or lines, as the typist
has to look both on the typing matters as well as on the keyboard and in
doing so, omissions are possible.
5.High speed cannot be attained by using this method.
- TOUCH METHOD OF TYPEWRITING
Touch system means mentally locating the position of the keys by sense
of touch without looking at the keyboard. This method was introduced
by Mr. Charles McGurin, an American Typist in 1878.
The basic technique stands in contrast to sight method as the typist
keeps his eyesight on the source copy at all times. Touch typing also
involves the use of the home row method, where typist keeps their
wrists up, rather than resting them on a desk or keyboard. In this
method the typist has to keep his eyesight only on the notebook from
which the matter has to be typed. This operation of keys is called by
sense of location and not by sight. This method is based on scientific
lines. Each finger has to operate on the keys allotted to it. All the fingers
of both the hands are used. This is the most scientific and modern
method of typing, the unnecessary movement of eyes and hands is not
required.
The keyboard is divided into two parts, one for the left hand, and the
other for the right hand, each part being sub-divided into sections for
each finger. The first fingers (forefingers) of both the hands are allotted
eight keys each because these fingers are stronger than the other
fingers.
The allotment of keys to all the fingers of both the hands is given as
under
Touch method of typewriting is superior to the sight method of
typewriting. Though, in the beginning, the typist has to put in hard
work, but it is very beneficial for acquiring high speed in the long run.
User interface features such as spell checker, auto complete, and auto
replace serve to facilitate and speed up typing and to prevent or correct
errors the typist may make.
Many touch typists also use keyboard shortcut or hotkeys when typing
on a computer. This allows them to edit their document without having
to take their hands off the keyboard to use a mouse. An example of a
keyboard shortcut is touching the Ctrl key plus the S key to save a copy
as you type, or the Ctrl key plus the Z key to undo a mistake. Many
experienced typists can feel or sense when they've made an error and
can hit the ← Backspace key and make the correction without missing a
beat.

- ADVANTAGES OF TOUCH METHOD OF TYPEWRITING

The advantages of touch method of typewriting are as under:
1. Saving of time and energy as the work is distributed amongst all the
fingers of both the
hands and it can also be specified as division of labour among all the
fingers of the
hands.
2. The matter can be typed quickly due to less unnecessary movement
of hands and eyes.
3. The high speed of typewriting can be achieved.
4. The typist does not tire even after many hours of work because the
work is divided
among all the fingers.
5. This method ensures uniform impression and the matter typed with
Touch Method
gives a pleasing appearance.
6. There is less possibility of omission of words or lines. Unnecessary
movement of eyes
is also avoided.
7. The typist is not required to look at the keyboard.
8. Rhythm is maintained in this method of typewriting.
9. The typist can concentrate very well on the matter to be typed.
- DISADVANTAGES OF TOUCH METHOD OF TYPEWRITING
The disadvantages of this system are that the typist has to memorise
the keyboard, the location of keys, the different rows of the keyboard
and besides this the typist has to concentrate his eyesight on the note
book. Keys have to be operated as per the universal method of typing.

6.Storage Devices

1. Floppy Disk
It is a disk made of Mylar plastic and enclosed in square plastic jacket. It
is 3.5 inch in diameter. The capacity of a 3.5 inch floppy is 1.44
megabytes. It is cheaper than other storage devices and is portable. It is
useful in transferring data from one computer to another. They are
small, inexpensive, easy to store. The floppy is a low cost device
particularly suitable for personal computer system.
2. Hard Disk
Hard Disk has a much larger storage capacity than a floppy disk. It is
fitted inside the computer and cannot be seen by us. It consists of one
or more platters divided into concentric tracks and sectors. It is
mounted on a central spindle, like a stack. It can be read by a read/write
head that pivots across the rotating disks. The data is stored on the
platters covered
24
with magnetic coating. Nowadays, hard disks are available that can
store upto 1 Terabyte of data.
3. Compact Disks
The compact disks or CDs are optical media. The CDs are cheap and
have a storage capacity of upto 700 MB. There are three types of CDs:
1) CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) this is used to store
information and cannot be used to store data.
2) CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable) Data can be recorded on these
disks only once
3) CD-RW (Compact Disk-Rewritable) CD-RW is an erasable disk
you can write on multiple times.
4. DVDs– DVD is an optical storage device which looks like compact
disc
1) DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory) DVD-ROM
is high capacity optical disk capable of storing 4.7GB to 17GB.
2) DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) It allows users to write on the disc once
but read it many times.
3) DVD-RW (DVD-Rewritable) - Data can be erased and read many
times on them

5. Pen Drives
They are tiny devices which are about the size of small pen and which
plug into an USB port. They vary in capacity and can store 1 GB and
upto 1 TB. Due to their size; they are more convenient and compact for
backup and transferring data. They are free from scratch and dust
problems that exist in other storage media.

7.Common Keys of MS- Office

To open a new
CTRL+N
document
CTRL+O Open a document
CTRL+W Close a document
CTRL+S Save a document
CTRL+F Find Text
CTRL+H Replace Text
CTRL+G Go to a page
CTRL+Z Undo last action
Redo or repeat last
CTRL+Y
action
CTRL+P Print a document
Center align a
CTRL+E
paragraph
Justify align a
CTRL+J
paragraph
Left align a
CTRL+L
paragraph
Right align a
CTRL+R
paragrap

8.Points to Remember
 Microsoft Word is a word (text) processing or documentation software
used for
creating, editing, formatting and printing text such as letters, essays,
reports, memos,
catalogues, newsletters etc.
 Some of the most useful features of Word are editing, formatting, find
and replace and
spell check.
 Editing involves changing the content of a document. This may be
accomplished
using features like cut, copy and paste features.
 Text can be moved from one location to another using Cut and Paste
operations.
 Text can be copies using Copy and Paste operations.
 Formatting involves changing the appearance of the document using
features like
changing font type, style and size.
 Saving a file transfers the document from memory to a storage
medium such as hard
disk or pen drive.
 Find and Replace feature can be used to locate multiple occurrences
of a word or
phrase (even special characters and formats) in a document and replace
them with
alternate words and phrases.
 Word allows aligning text and paragraphs in four ways namely – left,
right, center and
justified.
 Auto Correct feature is used to correct common spelling errors as the
text is being.
typed.
 Auto Format feature is used to automatically apply formatting to the
text being typed.
 Tab Stops are defined as a position set for placing and aligning text on
a page.

9.STANDARD TYPWRITER
“Standard” means “that which is recognized as a rule or model of
approved merit or excellence”. The expression “Standard Typewriter”
signifies that the machine is a model of excellence for the purpose it is
used, namely, to write rapidly, accurately and neatly. The Standard
Typewriter was perfected by the Underwood Company in 1896*.
All the Standard Typewriters have the following common features:
 A four-row (bank) Keyboard;
 The arrangement of keys in a similar order of letters;
 A single shift operation for capitals and additional characters; and
 Visibility of writing by “front upstroke typebar action”, which means
that the type is arranged in a semi-circle in front of the machine and
strikes upwards on the paper.
 Any typewriter which does not have any or all these features is called
a non-standard typewriter. Prior to the invention of the Standard
Typewriter in 1896, all the typewriters were non-standard typewriters.
Now only standard typewriters are manufacture.

SITTING POSTURE
There should be a perfect sitting posture for typing on the keyboard.
Body must be upright and shoulders should be relaxed, your feet should
be flat on the floor. For the perfect sitting posture, the following
guidelines should be followed:
(a) Use cushioned chair that helps you keep your body straight. The
chair so selected should be adjustable, so that you can set the height of
the chair to rest your feet flat on the floor. Keep your feet on the floor
or on a footrest. Some people like sitting in a slightly lounged position
as it creates less stress on the back.
(b) Support your lower back.
(c) In typing-mode, never cross legs.
(d) Both the feet should touch the floor maintaining a distance of about
15 cm between the two feet.
(e) Have a comfortable chair with adjustable armrests, if possible.
(f) Have a cushioned seat.
(g) Your keyboard should be at a height that allows your elbows to be
bent and close to your sides.
- Chair & Table
If the typist has furniture shaped to support his/her body, best posture,
they can stay focused on the work, or operate in front of them.
Determine the best chair height by seating with knees at 90° and feet
flat on the floor. The distance from the floor to the seating surface is the
chair height you want.