While not an article or book, Pedro Amado put together a pretty comprehensive infographic timeline of font software and formats, which could give you a starting point for further research.

That link works for me, although the site's title is long string of gibberish (looks like mis-encoded HTML for a 404 page). Anyway, here's a direct link to the image:

http://www.typeforge.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/timeline_format...

That is a nice chart.

The first post, though, referred to the subject in a way that I found odd - it seemed as though the OP was looking for a chart that would show the kind of typeface design software in use at the time of, say, the Battle of Hastings. "Throughout history" implies that something is shown over the entire span of time since the invention of writing, as opposed to only throughout its own history.

http://www.oakknoll.com/detail.php?d_booknr=79701

I have found an essay from the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University, Letterform Design Systems by Lynn Ruggles, a PDF of which can be downloaded using the link below (this link will trigger a download depending on your browser):

ftp://reports.stanford.edu/pub/cstr/reports/cs/tr/83/971/CS-TR-83-971.pdf

It includes an overview of the InTeractive Synthesizer of LetterForms (ITSLF) designed by H. W. Mergler and Y. M. Vargo in 1967, the first system in Pedro's infographic. I have only just started reading through this but it actually addresses your initial request very nicely.

That's a great timeline chart gargoyle!

n.

Sorry, I should have looked beyond the flashy graphics! You may find, if so motivated, that the best way to proceed is compiling that information yourself based on (amongst other things) the incredible range of first hand sources to be found on Typophile and in the wider and very friendly type community.

Thanks everyone for the info!

António