Microsoft Word (originally known as Multi-Tool Word) was introduced in the early 1980s by software developers Richard Brodie and Charles Simonyi who came to work for Microsoft from Xerox. Although Microsoft Word was made available for both Macintosh and computers using MS-DOS, It wasn’t until 1989, when Word shifted its focus to Windows, bundled with Excel and Powerpoint into Microsoft Office For Windows, when it became a dominant word processing application. The overall interface design has stayed the same as you can see with examples shown below from the 1990s up until today.
Some key interactions that Word has include, being able to choose a font type, formatting the document, and being able to check your spelling and grammar. All of these interactions were available in earlier versions and some have had minor changes to them with the recent versions; especially with spell check. Sometimes when a user types in an incorrect spelling of a word, it will automatically correct it without leaving an indication that it’s spelled wrong with a squiggly, red underline (auto-correct; for the 2016 version I am currently using). Microsoft also has numerous patents for certain interactions such as the one I mentioned; System and method for automatically correcting a misspelled word and automatic word completion system for partially entered data.
This application was purchased and delivered as a license (one-time payment) up until 2013, when they started offering a subscription-based service offered online. You still have the option to go the license owning or subscription route today.
As a lot of focus has shifted to mobile devices like tablets and phones, Word has accommodated its interface and interactions to fit with those gadgets, without the use of I/O devices like keyboards and mouse and considering the use of a stylus like the Apple Pencil since they rely on touch screens.
References
“US6047300A – System and Method for Automatically Correcting a Misspelled Word.” Google Patents, Google, patents.google.com/patent/US6047300A/en.
“US6377965B1 – Automatic Word Completion System for Partially Entered Data.” Google Patents, Google, patents.google.com/patent/US6377965B1/en.
Very detailed and clear. Thank you for sharing the history of Microsoft Word.
I appreciate the detailed research you had done. it is interesting to know that the interface of past versions is similar to today’s Word.
It is so impressive to see how microsoft word’s development, learned that one software’s success is linked to the needs of the generation.