Microsoft Wants You To Dictate Your Excel Spreadsheets Again

TIFKAM Strikes Again

Microsoft is certainly consistent when it comes to ignoring their customers desires and in their utter refusal to learn from the past.  Case and point is the recent podcast featuring Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Windows + Devices, who suggest the next version of Windows will emphasize voice, touch, and pen interfaces.  There are many of us that recall the abomination that was the original Windows 8 interface, which was optimized for touchscreens and tried to make your desktop experience the same as your phone … not that many were using a Windows phone at the time.

In general this move was despised, ridiculed and people went to great lengths to avoid having to deal with the interface no longer known as Metro.  It took longer than it should have but Microsoft eventually reversed course and created a slightly less reviled interface for Windows users.

That lesson did not stick apparently, or else the temptation to show off how awesome the AI they’ve shoehorned into Windows will be at interpreting user’s voice commands overruled any remaining common sense in Redmond.  There is nothing that could make the daily experience of working in an open concept office more enjoyable than your coworkers constantly talking to their computers.  While it does already happen occasionally, usually it is an invective filled soliloquy from a coworker who is very upset at what their computer just did.  Microsoft now wants to make it a regular and normal occurrence.

The Register was brave enough to listen to the drivel about the life changing benefits of AI in Windows as well as turning your laptop into Talkie Toaster and shared their take on the announcement here.