My Writing Technologies

I type on the computer nearly everyday-at work and at school. I also type on the computer for personal reasons. I make files in Microsoft Word for any plans that I make or things that I need or need to do. I started out typing on the "traditional" typewriter. When I first started working in the early 1980's, the stand alone word processor was widely used along with the traditional typewriter. I worked for a major recycling company in Maryland from 1990 to 2004. When I first started there the traditional typewriter was still being used and the manager loved to write lo-o-ong memos and letters. Within six months I convinced him to get a stand alone word processor which was leased! This machine actually could be changed from a word processor to typewriter with a flick of a switch. By 1996, personal computers were installed which had all the Microsoft office packages including Word. However, we kept the word processor (which by then had been purchased). This company I went to after I left recycling company had mainframe computers for data entry (I was a data entry clerk). However, I didn't type much correspondence. There was an old typewriter on the lower level for typing envelopes.

Currently, I work for a retail uniform store. We have personal computers and I use Word and Excel nearly everyday. However, we have a typewriter also. Mostly I use it to type labels and envelopes. The manager uses it to fill out bids and RFQs.

My writing technologies have changed with the times. I can remember making graphs and charts by hand with some text literally cutting, pasting and photocopying to put it all together. I am familiar with Adobe Photoshop and other photo editing packages. I do a lot of tables in Excel.

I still write in long hand a lot using pen and pencil. I hand-write school paper outlines along with ideas for the paper. Then I start typing in Word. I am alway scribbling out lists. I like to write in longhand but I have terrible handwriting, so if I have to give someone a messagew, I type it. My manager, who handwriting is as bad as mine, is always criticizing my handwriting. It makes me angry.