History of the Typewriter & Computer Software

Flashcards about the typewriter and computer software.

Keyboard Typewriter

A mechanical device to produce printed characters on a piece of paper by typing individual keys.

Henry Mill

An English inventor who patented the first typewriter in 1714.

Pellegrino Turri

An Italian inventor who invented a typewriter that is used to help his blind friend have the ability to write.

William Austin Burt

An American who patented a machine that he called a “Typographer”, this was considered to be one of the first typewriters to have existed.

Hanson Writing Ball

The first commercially produced typewriter product invented by Rev. Rasmus Malling Hansen.

Remington No. 2

Introduced the shift key, allowing uppercase and lowercase typing.

Hammond Typewriter

Uses a type shuttle system, offering interchangeable fonts.

Christopher Latham Sholes, Frank Haven Hall, Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule

Patented the first commercially successful typewriter; the Sholes and Glidden Typewriter.

John T. Underwood

Developed the “Underwood 1 Typewriter” which was the first typewriter with a typing area that was fully visible to the typist.

Carriage Return lever or key

Returning the carriage to the right to start a new line.

Left Carriage Release lever

Frees carriage so it can be moved by hand.

Cylinder scale

Visual guide for vertical alignment, spacing, and measuring the paper's position.

Ribbon Spool

A spool of ribbon or inked cloth was raised between the type and paper.

Type bars

One of the bars on a typewriter that bears type for printing.

Shift lock

A typewriter key that when depressed locks the carriage or typebars into shifted position.

Shift key

A typewriter key that determines whether characters are printed in upper or lower case and controls the printing of numbers and symbols.

Space Bar

Advances carriage one space at a time.

Line Gauge

To select the amount of vertical space between lines of text.

Cylinder

The roller also known as the "platen".

Paper table

A tilted shelf at the back of the platen of a typewriter for supporting the paper.

Right Carriage Release lever

At right to free carriage so it can be moved by hand.

Feed roll

A roll or one of two or more rolls by which material is drawn or fed into a machine.

Cylinder

The rubber-covered roller called the "platen" that holds the paper.

Thumb wheel

It lets you move the paper exactly where you need it to be.

Ribbon thumb knob

To make sure the ink ribbon in your typewriter keeps moving and working properly.

Backspace key

Moves carriage back one space at a time.

Ribbon indicator

A small gauge or window that shows the position or status of the ink ribbon.

Computer Software

A general term for the programs that enable a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware).

System software

Manages and controls the computer's hardware and provides a platform for application software to run.

Application software

Designed to perform specific tasks for the user; it directly interacts with the user to help them accomplish various activities.

Utility software

Designed to help manage, maintain, and optimize the computer system.

space bar

That long button, to create space between words.

mode

That button used with others, to change settings.

relocation

If you make a mistake, the cursor goes back to your previous position.

set

The "okay" button, to save what you've done.

tab setting

To align adjacent text.

margin control

To adjust the edges of the paper.

carriage return

To move to a new line.

half indexing

To slightly raise or lower the paper.

character correction

To erase a single letter.

word correction

To erase a word.

top plate

The cover on top.

variable spacer

The wheel that you turn to raise or lower the paper.

paper bail release lever

To raise or lower the paper holder.

paper release lever

To release the paper.

paper support

To prevent the paper from falling over.

code

Used with other buttons, for special commands.

shift key

For capital letters.

centering

To put what you've written in the middle.

shift lock key

For continuous capital letters.

decimal tab

To align numbers with decimals.

indent

To move the beginning of a line inward.

tabulator

To move to the next preset position.

margin release

To write even past the edge.

text display

The screen, shows what you've written.

pitch scale

To see the width of the letters.

printing unit

The part that prints.

paper bail

The part that holds the paper.

platen

The rubber roller that the paper goes around.

System Unit

The main body of a computer that houses the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and other essential components, and manages and processes all operations.

Storage

Devices and media that store digital data, either permanently or temporarily (e.g., hard drives, SSDs, CDs).

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A traditional storage device that uses spinning disks to read/write data; it stores the operating system, software, and files.

CD Drive

A device used to read data stored on Compact Discs (CDs), like music, software, or files.

DVD Drive

Similar to a CD drive but can read and often write to Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs), which hold more data than CDs.

Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)

An older storage device used to read/write data on floppy disks, which were popular before USBs and CDs.

Input

Receiving data and instructions from external sources (e.g., keyboard, mouse).

Processing

Performing operations on the input data according to programmed instructions (handled by the CPU).

Storing

Saving data temporarily or permanently for future use (RAM for temporary, HDD/SSD for permanent).

Output

Presenting the results of processing (e.g., displaying text on a monitor, printing a document).