How a women's passion and persistence made 'Bob.' (Karen Fries, the woman behind Microsoft's Bob integrated software)
Article Abstract:
Microsoft Program Manager Karen Fries and partners developed Microsoft's Bob, a suite of eight programs that use animated characters to impart instructional tips to novice users. The program, identified by a happy face logo, was recently introduced at the 1995 Consumer Electronics show, but it took three years of persistence to get the world's dominant software force, Microsoft, to stand behind the project. Some experts point out that using animated characters in software has been tried unsuccessfully before. However, the concept of computers helping users by prompting them with questions has been gaining popularity and is part of an effort to change the way software is designed. Apple is planning to include a similar dialog in its Copeland and Gershwin operating systems scheduled for release in 1996 and 1997. Bill Gates, Chmn and CEO of Microsoft, believes the influence of Bob will be greater than its sales figures.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Amid hype and fear, Microsoft Windows 95 gets ready to roll; despite delays, new program is expected to boost software giant's reach; how PC makers fell in line
Article Abstract:
Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system could be the biggest software product launch in the computer industry's history when it is introduced on Aug 24, 1995, and could guarantee Microsoft's dominance of the software industry and strike fear in its competitors. Microsoft could send its product to manufacturers, known as going gold, as early as Jul 14, 1995, which would commit the company to shipping the product as-is by Aug 24. Windows 95 includes dozens of new features that fix major problems found in Microsoft's earlier DOS and Windows 3.1 systems. The company enlisted the help of user groups to design features such as long file names, and sent over 400,000 beta copies to testers. Analysts estimate that Microsoft could ship 4 million copies of Windows 95 in the first four months of production. This kind of market volume is unprecedented, and rivals Apple and IBM are extremely worried.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Roamable eases wireless-to-Web interplay; software lets mobile users send e-mail to request information from sites
Article Abstract:
Roamable Corp. offers Internet access software that lets mobile users connect via mobile devices to the Internet without using a browser. The technology is best suited to text, and will be a business product rather than a consumer product, probably the most useful to traveling employees who need to retrieve crucial data in text form.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 2001
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Price movements and price discovery in the municipal bond index and the index futures market. The relationship between volume and price variability in futures markets
- Abstracts: National differences in the diffusion and design of technological innovation: the role of inter-organizational networks
- Abstracts: Excite At Home at a defining moment; partnerships are considered with Yahoo, Microsoft and America Online. Webvan expects revenue to miss goals
- Abstracts: Do new product development managers in large or high-market-share firms perceive marketing-R&D interface principles differently?
- Abstracts: The five stages of the co-operative venture strategy process. R&D mode choices in Central and Eastern Europe