Word Processor Pioneer Evelyn Berezin Dies Aged 93

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Link: Word processor pioneer Evelyn Berezin dies aged 93 [bBC News]

 

The woman who created and sold what many recognise as the world's first word processor has died aged 93.

 

Evelyn Berezin called the device the Data Secretary when, in 1971, her company Redactron launched the product.

 

She grew Redactron from nine employees to close to 500 and was named one of the US's top leaders by BusinessWeek magazine in the year she sold it, 1976.

 

She had earlier built one of the original computerised airline reservation systems.

 

The innovation - which matched customers and available seats - was tested by United Airlines in 1962.

 

According to the Computer History Museum, it had a one-second response time and worked for 11 years without any central system failures.

 

The technology vied with the rival Sabre system, developed by American Airlines, for being the first of its kind.

 

In addition, Ms Berezin helped pioneer other types of special-purpose computing including:

 

• an automated banking system
  
• a weapons-targeting calculator for the US Defense Department
  
• terminals for a horse-racing track that monitored how much money was being bet on each animal...