The Office Assistant was a Microsoft Office feature to assist users by way of an interactive animated character, which interfaced with the Office help content. It used technology initially from Microsoft Bob and later Microsoft Agent, offering advice based on Bayesian algorithms. In Microsoft Office for Windows, it was included in versions 97 to 2003. In Microsoft Office for Mac, it was included in versions 98 to 2004. The default assistant in th...
more
The Office Assistant was a Microsoft Office feature to assist users by way of an interactive animated character, which interfaced with the Office help content. It used technology initially from Microsoft Bob and later Microsoft Agent, offering advice based on Bayesian algorithms. In Microsoft Office for Windows, it was included in versions 97 to 2003. In Microsoft Office for Mac, it was included in versions 98 to 2004. The default assistant in the English version was named Clippit, nicknamed Clippy, after a paperclip. The character was designed by Kevan J. Atteberry .
The feature evoked a strong negative response from many users. Microsoft turned off the feature in Office XP, acknowledging its unpopularity in an ad campaign spoofing Clippit. The feature was removed altogether in Office 2007 and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac.
The Office assistant was enabled by default in early Microsoft Office versions. It popped up when the program determined the user could be assisted with using...
less
