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Automobiles came and the horse-and-carriage industry went. The invention of the telephone virtually put the telegraph business out of business. So it would seem that, in this age of computers, the typewriter would soon be making its exit. Not exactly.
Remember when the vacuum was first introduced? Faster and more powerful, the vacuum was created to automate sweeping and ultimately, eliminate the need for a broom. Yet, how many households today still use a broom and own several? The broom is still the preferred tool for quick sweeping jobs and for cleaning small surfaces and hard-to-reach areas. Despite the vacuum's mechanized features, the broom is a needed complement, similar to the relationship between the typewriter and the PC.
Although companies now heavily rely on PCs, e-mail, and the Web for office automation and enhanced productivity, typewriters do exist in many business environments. The sale and use of typewriters has significantly decreased with the advent of the PC, but typewriters still continue to hold a place in the office environment, albeit in lower numbers.
Today's Typewriter
No single reason explains the continuing viability of typewritersinstead, there are several. While the typewriter market has changed over the past several years, typewriters continue to be prolific throughout the business world. No longer the primary tool for heavy-duty wordprocessing, the typewriter is still used by most businesses, typically as a shared tool within an office environment. And while the functionality of typewriters pales by comparison to the advanced functions of PCs, typewriters still continue to offer users ease of use and productivity features for performing specific, application-oriented tasks, complementing the features and functionality of PCs.
Despite the advances in computer technology,...