Abstract: A device for capturing commentary, rationale, and other explanatory information pertaining to a document in parallel with the authoring of the document itself. The document content is entered through a primary input device (100), typically but not restricted to keyboard and mouse, and the commentary is entered through a secondary input device (200) of a different medium, such as speech captured by a microphone. The comments are linked to the corresponding locations in the main document by a memory controller (300), which stores the linked structure in the computer memory (400) and sends it to an output device (500), typically but not restricted to a computer monitor display, for presentation of the annotated document to the operator.

Abstract: In a system for controlling the flow of paper work of a multiplicity of documents by a multiplicity of individuals, the documents are stored electronically in the memory of a central data processor and are electronically transmitted to remote processors to be displayed by display devices of terminals connected to the remote processors when the paper work tasks are performed. Schedules of tasks are stored in the memory of the central data processor, each schedule comprising a plurality of data packets and each data packet containing the identification of a document, the task to be performed on the document, the individual who is to perform the task, whether the task has been completed, whether the task must await the completion of a preceding task identified in the data packet in the schedule and, if so, which preceding data packets have tasks which must be first completed.