HomeWord

HomeWord
Title	HomeWord
Release date(s)	1983
Original Platform(s)	Apple II
Original Publisher(s)	Sierra On-Line
Category(s)	Productivity, Word Processing, Word Processor

Origins and Development

HomeWord was a word processing software developed by Sierra On-Line, a company renowned for its adventure and arcade games, such as Mystery House and Frogger. Released in 1983, HomeWord was designed to meet the growing demand for user-friendly productivity software in the burgeoning personal computer market. Sierra, originally founded as On-Line Systems in 1979 by Ken and Roberta Williams, had previously ventured into word processing with ScreenWriter ][ in 1982, a program aimed at professional users. However, Sierra identified a market for a simpler, family-oriented word processor, leading to the development of HomeWord, targeted at home users and small businesses.

HomeWord was initially developed for the Apple II under the ProDOS operating system and was later ported to other platforms, including the IBM PC, IBM PCjr, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit computers. Unlike ScreenWriter ][, which catered to more technical users, HomeWord prioritized ease of use, featuring an intuitive interface that leveraged icons for major operations—a novel approach at the time. This design made it one of the earliest word processors to incorporate a graphical user interface (GUI) of sorts, predating the widespread adoption of GUIs in personal computing. The software was developed in collaboration with Ken Williams and Jeff Stephenson, with the latter playing a key role in its technical implementation. HomeWord was marketed as “simple, versatile, effective,” offering the power of a sophisticated word processor without the complexity.

Evolution: HomeWord Plus and HomeWord II

Following the success of the original HomeWord, Sierra released HomeWord Plus, enhancing the software with additional features for the Apple II (ProDOS 40/80 column for 128k Apple //e and //c) and also a version for the PC. HomeWord Plus included a spell checker and improved compatibility with hard disks, addressing user feedback and hardware advancements.

Later, in 1989, Sierra released HomeWord II, developed by Synergistic Software.

IBM PCjr Partnership

Sierra was a prominent early developer for the IBM PCjr, and a PCjr-specific version of HomeWord was sold by IBM as one of the launch titles.

Market Context and Challenges

HomeWord entered a competitive market alongside other early word processors like EasyWriter, WordStar, and Bank Street Writer. Its focus on home users and simplicity was a differentiator, but it faced challenges as the industry shifted toward more feature-rich software and standardized operating systems like MS-DOS. The Apple II’s declining market share by the mid-1980s, coupled with the IBM PC’s dominance, posed challenges for HomeWord’s original platform. While HomeWord Plus and HomeWord II addressed some compatibility issues, they struggled to keep pace with competitors offering advanced features and broader DOS integration. Sierra’s primary focus on gaming, with hits like King’s Quest, also diverted resources from its productivity software, limiting HomeWord’s development.

Legacy and Impact

HomeWord’s legacy lies in its pioneering approach to user-friendly word processing. Its icon-based interface and comprehensive tutorials anticipated the GUI-driven software of the late 1980s and 1990s, influencing the design of later word processors like Microsoft Word. By targeting home users, HomeWord intended to democratize computing, making word processing accessible to non-technical audiences. Its adoption by IBM for the PCjr underscored its significance in the early personal computer market, even if the platform itself faltered.

The software’s commercial success was modest compared to industry giants, but it contributed to Sierra’s diversification beyond gaming, showcasing the company’s versatility. HomeWord’s emphasis on simplicity and accessibility left a mark on the evolution of productivity software, proving that complex tasks could be made approachable for everyday users.

Releases

Links

Software People Page 157, 158