Typewriter

A typewriter is a mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a document, usually paper.

Related Topics:
Mechanical - Electromechanical - Electronic - Document - Paper

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the late 19th and the start of the 20th century a person who operated such a device was sometimes also called a "typewriter," but it then became more common to call the person a typist.

Related Topics:
19th - 20th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A typewriter has a keyboard, with keys for each of the characters in its font. The method by which the typewriter actually marks the paper now varies as greatly as types of computer printers do, but until the end of the 20th century was by the impact of a metal (or, later, metallized plastic) type element against an "inked" ribbon which caused ink to be deposited on the paper. Carbon paper was sometimes inserted between multiple pieces of paper, so the impact also caused duplicate characters to be printed on each layer of paper.

Related Topics:
Keyboard - Font - Computer printer - Plastic - Carbon paper

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although still popular with a few writers and in less developed countries, the typewriter has largely been replaced by the word processor application on a personal computer.

Related Topics:
Word processor - Personal computer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~