Several speakers at Syntopicon X, an annual office automation conference recently concluded in Kansas City, predicted that single function word processing systems will be obsolete in another five years. Integrated systems supporting several functions are expected to take over. Already the major word processing vendors are offering limited data processing and telecommunications capabilities. Interfaces to larger computers will be the greatest area of activity in the next two years according to a majority of the presenters. Word processing on micros is expected to remain popular because it offers flexibility and reliability. Software changes are not dependent on their place on the lengthy priority list as is common with large systems, nor are they subject to downtime when the larger machine is out.
The exhibits confirmed the speakers' predictions: most of the systems stressed financial and business applications while taking word processing for granted.
Some of the speakers also stressed that the shakeout of vendors is continuing. In the last five years as many as fifty companies have dropped out of the word processing market, including 3M. Another forty may drop out in the next two or three years. Cliff Walker, whose firm, Word Systems, specializes in used word processors, stressed that marketing rather than the uniqueness of the product is the key to survival. Products that establish large local customer bases as the result of aggressive marketing are likely to be around five years hence and, even if they cease to be manufactured, service will probably continue to be available for them.
