Word processor pioneer

[brightncheerful]

died https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46539934

Super invention.

[bungeejumper]

I remember being introduced to one of the first automatic typesetting machines, some time in the 1970s. It was the size of an aircraft pilot's console, it ran on magnetic tape, and it looked rather like this: http://www.in3.org/info/Museum/cg%20compuwriter.jpg . And wow, it could do a whole line of type at a time! And justify the word spacing too!

We thought the future had arrived. But then, the daily newspapers were still being printed in hot metal at that time, and the compositors who keyed it all in were the kings of the publishing trade. Five years later they were all out of a job.

BJ

[XFool]

Whither "ETAOIN SHRDLU"?

[panamagold]

ETAOIN's brother Norman is credited as the composer of "Jam Blues" on the album "Charlie Parker Jam Sessions".

[bungeejumper]

ETAOIN's brother Norman is credited as the composer of "Jam Blues" on the album "Charlie Parker Jam Sessions".

And much more besides: https://www.discogs.com/artist/2711524-Norman-Shrdlu . But not even a mention of his cousin, Qwerty Capshift, who regularly featured on keyboards.

BJ

[orchard101]

I remember working in London in the 60s at a firm of solicitors. They bought a 'word processing' machine, the size of a small house worked by tape. I never saw it being used. The firm then moved offices and it disappeared. Never did find out what happened to it.

[tjh290633]

Sounds like an early telex machine.

TJH