Microprocessors: Design case history: Wang's word processor: A novel distributed-processing design enabled its creators to revolutionize text-handling systems

Word processors were the up and coming thing in offices when An Wang, founder of Wang Laboratories Inc., in Lowell, Mass., called three of his computer specialists to a secret strategy meeting on Sept. 28, 1975. Dr. Wang was worried because the company's Series 1200 word processor, its initial entry into the market in 1971, was pitted against formidable competition from International Business Machines, Vydec, Burroughs, and Xerox. The Wang word processor had captured perhaps 3 percent of all sales, whereas IBM alone controlled 75 to 80 percent.