Word Processors—Looking Outside Available to Purchase

It is easy to under‐rate the potential of a word processing system and the role it can play both in local and remote communications. Two or more word processors linked to the same network and equipped with the necessary software, allow messages to be transmitted in seconds, eliminating the need for note‐writing. The communications link makes it possible to reproduce text on other types of printer and phototypesetting equipment and the addition of the appropriate communications board enables access to mainframe or minicomputer databases. A telephone link widens the scope to include Telecom Gold, Prestel, telex and private videotex services; messages can be sent internationally and stored in magnetic memory mailboxes. The linking of word processors and communications creates a rapid, wide, information gathering and processing capacity under the control of a single keyboard.