Microsoft Office XP Multilanguage Pack (2001)
Date: 2001
Platform: PC
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Simulation
Also known as: Office Assistant
Adaptation: Cameo
Summary:
The Office Assistant was an intelligent user interface for Microsoft Office. It assisted users by way of an interactive animated character that interfaced with the Office help content. It was included in Microsoft Office for Windows (versions 97 to 2003), in Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Project (versions 98 to 2003), Microsoft FrontPage (versions 2002 and 2003), and Microsoft Office for Mac (versions 98 to 2004). The Office Assistant used technology initially from Microsoft Bob and later Microsoft Agent, offering advice based on Bayesian algorithms.
The default assistant in the English version was named Clippit, after a paperclip. The character was designed by Kevan J. Atteberry. Although the name Clippit was used in all versions of Microsoft Office that supported the Office Assistant feature, the assistant became commonly referred to by the public as Clippy, a name which later occasionally bled into Microsoft marketing materials. Clippit was by far the most notable (partly because in many cases the setup CD was required to install the other assistants), which also led to his being called simply the Microsoft Paperclip.
