Information Technology Blog

Word Processor Journal

Over my career, word processing has not been a part of my day-to-day life, but I have used it daily in my current role. As I reflect on my early life, I used word processing a lot, from writing emails or essential text messages. I first used word processing software 30 years ago when computers were much different from today. Computer monitors were large and were a mini version of a tube tv's. I was first introduced to computers in elementary school, where we had a computer lab, and from there, I could see the progression of computers. 

Computers were basic and looked like a Tetris video game or a black-and-white screen where you input commands. Since my first introduction to computers, I have seen word processing evolve into something amazing and easier to operate. Word processing has added features that allow you to create cleaner documents with more options. Some options are fonts, spacing, margins, and the ability to add photos and hyperlinks. Word processors allow you to write macros, which has been very beneficial; it allows you to create commands that will allow you to do reparative tasks automatically. 

Word processing has always been needed in my career, from resumes to letters. Writing relates to everything we do in life and displays how important communicating with others is and how it involves using word processing. In my current role, I use word processing daily, from emails to fellow employees to writing documents to communicate processes. Word processor has helped me to share information all over the company and documents. It has allowed me to develop papers for high school and college assignments. Word processing is an excellent example of how the world has evolved to create information in different forms and turn a thought into a readable format.

Spreadsheet Example

Role of Applications Reflection Essay

Creating the journal was a fun opportunity because it brought back memories from childhood and allowed me to reflect on how rapidly technology changes. As I reflected on the evolution of word processors, it also caused me to think about what the future may bring. When calculating the percentages, it was enjoyable learning that technology can simplify doing calculations in a group format. It was nice knowing you could manipulate the data from less to most or vice versa and have the ability to sort by category. When developing the presentation, I thought it was essential to keep it simple to allow the presenter to personally  present each slide. 

When comparing the functions of each software, they are similar regarding font, font size, tables, and inputting information using a keyboard. The word processor software allows you to create documents in multiple formats and develop papers with different views. As stated, "Word is an application for word processing used primarily for text documents such as essays, emails, letters, books, resumes, or academic papers where text formatting is essential, creating a readable, printable document" (Coggno, 2023, para. 2). This example provides information that describes the purpose of word-processing software and its usage. 

  The spreadsheet allows you to collect and organize data in rows and columns. It also allows you to do calculations and create graphs and categories. It was stated that "Spreadsheets will do all the calculations for you, which saves you having to do those calculations manually" (Chron.com, 2019, para. 3). The presentation software would allow you to add animation while allowing you to deliver talking points individually but also add some humor to a presentation that other software didn't provide. It also provides templates that allow you to present on more than white space and eye-catching. 

Each application has advantages and disadvantages, but it is a fantastic tool. The applications aren't the easiest to figure out because they have so much to offer, but after learning them, you can understand the similarities. One advantage is that they all have a toolbar, making working on different applications easier. Another disadvantage is the applications are all separate and aren't collectively one. 

Microsoft Word is a software that I would recommend to document information about my day, but you could use each application to document your day. You can use Word to document a daily journal, spreadsheets to document daily data, and presentation material to present your daily accomplishments. You could use each application to develop a presentation where you may provide examples of data from a pie chart or a line graph. When presenting the data, you may need to develop notes or bullet points and copy and paste them into the presentation.