NATURE, FORMS, FUNCTIONS, FEATURES AND FUTURE OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
INTRODUCTION
Microsoft (MS) Office Word is a full-featured Word Processor that is written and made by Microsoft Corporation. Though Allen Paul and Bill Gate founded the Microsoft Company in 1975, conversely, the package, called Microsoft Word was produced on November, 1983. In the year 2002, it was renamed and metamorphosed to MS Office Word instead of its official name; MS Word. The new name comes with the 2003 version.
The company produces the Word Processor in three different versions (i.e. word for Dos (Disk Operating System), word for Macintosh and word for windows).
The company started with Dos in the year 1983 with the version named Word space1 and had its latest version for Dos named Word 2008. Also 1989 marked the beginning of MS Word for windows. Then its latest version (version 13) was released precisely on January, 2008. Then for the Macintosh, in the year 1984 the first version was released, named word 2.0 and had its latest version in the year 2004.
DEFFINITION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
Microsoft Word can plainly be described as one of the Application Software Packages (ASPs) which is simply and usually used in manipulating data such as typesetting. It id also known as an almighty packages because of its functions, that is; it can also perform the task of other packages.
FORMS OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
Microsoft Office Word is of three versions/forms, which includes:
1. Word for Dos
2. Word for Macintosh and
3. Word for Window
Word for DOS
This is one of the Operating Systems, it is fully known as Disk Operating System. It was founded in the year 1983 by Microsoft Corporation Company. It is not a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) featured package. It is existing before Window (16bits)/Window (32 bits); it is the first Operating System. The use of mouse is not common to Dos but Keyboard instead. As with most DOS software, each program had its own, often complicated, set of commands and nomenclatures for performing functions that had to be learned. For example, in Word for MS DOS, a file would be saved with the sequence Escape-T-S: pressing Escape called up the menu box, T accessed the set of options for Transfer and S was for Save (the only similar interface belonged to Microsoft’s own Multiplan spreadsheet).
Word for Macintosh
The next version after DOS is Macintosh, it was found in the year 1984, i.e. a year after DOS. The acronym of Macintosh is MAC, it adds closer to WYSIWYG features but not really. It was founded by Apple Company. This was introduced by Ken Shapiro. Word for Mac , despite the major differences in look and feel from the DOS version, it has just only minor changes from the DOS source code, which had been written with high-resolution displays and laser printers in mind although none were yet available to the general public . Following the precedents of Lisa Write and MacWrite. After Word for Mac was released in 1985, it gained wide acceptance.
Word for Windows
This is also Operating System software, it was found in the United State by Microsoft Corporation Company in the year 1975 by Allen Paul and Bill Gate. This is full WYSIWYG features; it was the latest system software. It made full use of mouse and keyboard. It is the best software that is being used by most Compute Users in Nigeria.
FUNCTIONS OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
These functions are being classified into two categories which are:
Social functions and
Economic functions.
Therefore, as we are driving you forward we shall be explaining to the functions of MS Office Word, thus,
Social and Educational Functions
It facilitates error free document typesetting.
It promotes accuracy and simplicity typing of document.
It helps to make correct spellings and grammars.
It aids in the areas of synonyms, i.e. allows the users to look for a similar word for the replacement of one.
Economic Functions
It saves time when using it for typesetting.
It is used for the publications of books, poems and other literacy works.
It helps in the productions of graphic designs and objects manipulating.
It can be used for typesetting of documents and editing of texts.
It also could be used for the production of letter-headed papers and logos.
This package can be used for web-designs and lots more.
Drawing is another essential function of MS Word for economic reasons.
It is one of the packages that caters for the stomach of some Computer Users Nigeria (that is why is commonly used in some computer oriented business centres).
Economic function of this program did not left out, presentation functions from it line- ups. That is it also could be used for data presentation, for project production, etc…
FEATURES OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
It is a word processor produced by Microsoft Corporation Company.
It is very essential in web designing.
It is produced to solve User’s problems.
It is used in creating, editing and formatting text and objects.
It is a full-featured wordd processing.
It aids in teaching and learning skills.
It is multi-functional in nature.
It is a WYSIWYG (i.e. What You See Is What You Get) word processor.
MS Office Word was the first word processor for the IBM PC that showed actual line break and typeface markups, such as Bold, Italic and Underline directly in the screen while editing.
FUTURE OF MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD
In a nutshell, we all know that the best package that is being used by most Computer Users in Nigeria is Microsoft Office Word. It is an almighty package because of it general work (i.e. it can also be used in performing other packages task).
In short, in the next couple of years Microsoft Office Word will be the best Application software packages (ASPs) all over the world because all the tools and commands of MS Office Word would have increased to the level that Users will not be wasting their time when performing any kind of task (whether encapsulates both Word Processing and Desktop Publishing or given in an isolated form).
GOOD FORMATTING CHOICES
Computer Users who were under training are usually disturbed with the choices the computer offers and with the programs they are exposed to. For most documents formatting, choices should make the document easy to read. Here are some general rules of thumb:
1. Use a normal font (one that has some ornamentation on the top and bottom of the font) for the body of the text (Times, century and schoolbook).
2. Choose a standard font size between twelve to fourteen for your words on a line (the normal is a font 12).
3. Justify paragraphs on the left,
4. In spite of what your typing instructor told you, do not double spaces after a period unless he/she takes points off for this.
5. Always use bold font for your headings.
6. Avoid the use of too many fonts in too many styles (bold, italic, etc.)
7. For automatic indentation, use ruler to set your tab. To do this, move the top indent on the left to about 0.5 inches mark.
CONCLUSSION
In a nutshell, and to cut the story short, we need to conclude and resolved that MS Office Word could be described as a multi and universal task program. As we all know, with the explanations made above, that the major ASPs that are best used by all the computer operators is MS Office Word.
REFERENCES
Olawuyi, M. (2008) An Overview of Microsoft Office Word and CorelDraw. A seminar paper
presented at As-sabaab Computer Academy and Vocational Training Centre, Ikirun,
Osun State.
Other consulted Materials/Website
http://www.en.wikipedia.com/microsoftword
http://www.wikimediafopundation.org/wiki.learn/en?
