Chapter-1

TYPOGRAPHY

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible,
readable and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting
typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line spacing, letter spacing, and spaces between pairs of
letters. The process of producing print like impressions on the typewriter or Computer or
Laptop is known as Typography.

Typewriter
A typewriter is a hand-operated mechanical device with which on typing keys can produce printed
characters on paper. There are different types of typewriters, including mechanical typewriters,
electric typewriters and electronic typewriters.

IMPORTANCE OF TYPEWRITER/COMPUTER
There are many advantages of using a typewriter/Computer, as given below:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) 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.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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.
(vi) 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.
(vii) 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.

CATEGORIES OF TYPEWRITERS
There are the following five categories of typewriters:
Standard Typewriter
Noiseless Typewriter
Portable Typewriter
Electric Typewriter
Electronic Typewriter

(i) STANDARD TYPWRITER : This is a large, heavy machine manufactured for use in business
offices or for otherwise demanding work. 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
Any typewriter which does not have any or all these features is called a non-standard typewriter.
(ii) NOISELESS TYPEWRITER: This Typewriter works on the principle of “pressure printing” instead of
usual stroking method and, therefore, it makes less noise than any other ordinary typewriter. The
first noiseless typewriter with three rows of keys was produced in 1910 but it had certain defects.
A perfect Noiseless Typewriter was produced in 1925.

(iii) PORTABLE TYPEWRITER: The Portable Typewriter has all the features of a Standard Typewriter
but its weight is light.It is used by travelling Operators. It is also useful for professionals,
businessmen, journalists, doctors, executives and others who have to travel frequently and require
letters, documents tobe typed during the course of their business tours. Portable typewriters came
in the market in 1931.

(iv) ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER: Electric typewriter came in 1938. It used a cylindrical type-wheel rather
than individual type-bars like the manual typewriters.
Advantages of this typewriter are:
(a) There is no need to use the hands to return the carriage from left to right position;
(b) A very light and feather touch is needed for the operation of the keyboard;
(c) The Operator does not tire even after many hours of work;
(d) There is uniformity of impression on the paper;
(e) Neat work is produced.
(f) Different type-faces can be taken by changing the golf ball;

(v) ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER: Electronic Typewriter is an improvement in the Electric Typewriter.

This typewriter has been introduced in the Indian market since 1982. Electronic Typewriters are
based on the sophisticated micro-processor computer technology. The salient features of Electronic
Typewriters are given below:
- It has a variety of automatic electronically controlled features, including paper feed, margins,
tabulator stops, bold printing, carriage return, underscoring, margin justification, decimal tabulation
and centering.
- It has a storage memory like Word Processor. But the memory is of a limited degree.
- There is a visual display screen of two-three lines. The Operator can see the text on these lines and
if there is any correction, it can be carried out before giving the print command.
- Both in English and Hindi can be typed only on one typewriter by changing the daisy wheel.
(vi) Computers: Computer is one of the most modern devices that is being used by majority
of people in their homes and offices. It is the most revolutionary invention. Computers are
being used everywhere. Our most of the services have been computerized such as railways,
banking, airways, electricity, hotels, schools, colleges, shops, big malls, industries, defence,
etc.
The main characteristics of computer are: Speed, high storage capacity, accuracy, reliability,
and versatility.

(vi) Laptops : Laptops are those computers which could be operated by putting it in your
laps. These are used in businesses and at home to communicate on computer network, for
word processing and to play games. These laptops have large amount of internal memory to
store different programs and documents. These laptops are equipped with a keyboard; a
mouse, track ball or other pointing devices and a video display, Monitor or LCD to display
information.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What do you understand by Typography?
2. Who is called the Inventor/Father of the Typewriter?
3. Who invented Touch method of Typewriting?
4. Which Company introduced the additional key in the Keyboard known as Shift Key?
5. In which year the first agency of Typewriters started in India?
6. Name the Typewriter invented by Mr. W.A. Burt in the year 1829.
7. How many categories of typewriters are there? Explain any two.
8. What are the advantages of Typewriter/Computer?
9. What do you understand by a Standard Typewriter? Enlist its salient features.
10. What are the advantages of Electric Typewriter?
11. Write the salient features of an Electronic Typewriter.
12. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words in the following sentences:
 The Electronic Typewriters were introduced in Indian market in the year ______.
 The _________Typewriter has all the features of a Standard Typewriter except its
weight is light.
 The Noiseless Typewriter works on the principle of ___________printing instead of
usual stroking method.
 There are _________ categories of Typewriters.
 The first Standard Typewriter was manufactured by Underwood Company in the
year __________.
 The first attempt to invent a Typewriter was made in the year 1714 by
Mr.____________