MICROSOFT WORD

There’s a good chance that you’ve encountered Microsoft Word if you’ve

used a computer for work, school, or in your leisure activities. But do you
really know the story of this popular and indispensable word processing
software? Learn more about the history of Word and its evolution over the
years.

What is Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word, known also just as ‘Word’ is word processing software and a
flagship product of Microsoft. It is an integral part of the Microsoft Office suite
of products and is the most widely-used word processor in the world. In fact,
it’s estimated that Word is running on more than a billion devices worldwide.

First released in 1983 under a different name, Word celebrated its 25 th

birthday in 2018. Its popularity lies in its ease of use, plus the fact that it can
be used on different operating systems including Macintosh and of course,
Windows.

Word can be bought as a standalone product or as a part of Microsoft Office,

which also includes programs like Excel and PowerPoint, for making
presentations. So, just how did Word come to dominate the market during
the last 25 years and become the most-used word processing software in the
world? And what does the future hold for the product?

Rise to popularity

The first ever version of Microsoft Word – Word 1.0 – was launched in
October 1983 and developed by former Xerox programmers, Charles Simonyi
and Richard Brodie. The two were hired by Microsoft founders Bill Gates and
Paul Allen, in 1981. At this time, Word was called Multi-Tool Word. It was
designed for use on computers that ran the UNIX operating system.

Word was a WYSIWYG (‘what you see is what you get’) program. This meant
that however a document looked on screen was how it would look once
printed. Word let users create, save and print text documents, but it wasn’t
an instant success; perhaps because it was competing with the hugely
popular WordPerfect and WordStar word processing programs.
Version 2.0 was released in 1985, with added features including spellcheck
and word count.

Over the following years, Microsoft re-coded the program a number of times
so that it could work on different operating systems, including DOS (disk
operating system) and Macintosh. The name was also changed to the shorter
and more memorable ‘Word’.

In 1993, Microsoft released Word 6.0 which worked on Macintosh, Windows

and DOS. Word 6.0 was the last version created to run on DOS and the last
version to be identified by version number; subsequent versions were named
after their year of release.

Since then, Microsoft has released a new version of Word at least every two
years. The most recent release was at the end of 2018, with Word 2019, part
of Office 365.

The future of Word

Today, Word and the whole Office suite is highly-integrated and runs on OS X,
Android and iOS, as well as Windows. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has
said that Office is the company’s most important API (application
programming interface).

The latest version of the software is Word 2019. Like its spreadsheet
counterpart, Excel, Word has been given a number of updates to improve its
functionality and ensure it keeps up with the changing computing times.

Recent new features of Word include:

Translator – Word can now translate words and sentences into other
languages using the Microsoft Translator tool, which sits under the Review
tab. This function has also been added to Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint.
Learning Tools – this feature helps make your documents easy to
comprehend and helps with reading fluency. Use it to change column width
for improved focus, page colour so the page can be scanned with less eye
strain, and show breaks between syllables to improve word recognition and
pronunciation. You can also use this tool to read your document aloud to you.

Digital pen – if you have a touch-enabled device, the latest version of Word
(and other Office products) lets you draw with your finger, a mouse or a
digital pen for easy annotation and note-taking.

Icons and SVGs (scalable vector graphics) – Word now has a library of
icons and 3D images which can be inserted into documents to make them
more visually appealing and to make an impact. Users can change colors and
apply effects.

Timeline of Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word 1.0 hit the scene on October 25, 1983. However, this software
wasn’t available for Windows users until 1989. This program stood out from
other writing and typing software on the market because of its graphical user
interface and “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) approach.1 With
its tech-forward features, it became a part of the first Microsoft Office suite
along with Excel and PowerPoint.2

“From its humble beginnings to its integration into the Microsoft 365 suite,
this software has undergone tremendous advancements over the past 10
years.”

“10 years as a cloud service”

Since it hit the tech world, Microsoft Word has revolutionized the way you
create, edit, and share documents. From its humble beginnings to its
integration into the Microsoft 365 suite, this software has undergone
tremendous advancements over the past 10 years. Travel with us as we
delve into a timeline of the transformative changes and new features Word
has gained.

2013: introducing Microsoft 365

In 2013, Microsoft introduced Microsoft 365, a new software delivery model
for technology users. Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that offers
access to a suite of apps and software, like Microsoft Word. Use this service
get access to the latest versions of the apps, continuous software updates,
and cloud-based storage options to back up your work in more than one
place.

2014: real-time collaboration across devices

Microsoft saw the growing need for collaboration and real-time editing and
coauthoring while you’re on the go. In 2014, Microsoft Word allowed you to
simultaneously work on a document with multiple users from different smart
devices. The new mobile app empowered you to enjoy seamless
collaboration, improved productivity, and enhanced workflow from any
location with your desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more.3

2015: integrated sharing

Microsoft made it easier to share your documents with your peers, family,
friends, and more in 2015.4 Word incorporated a Share pane that allowed
you to send a document as an attachment or as a PDF directly from the app.
Attach it as a file in your email, or upload the document to other Microsoft
365 apps, like OneDrive, so that you have it backed up.

2016: faster research

In 2016, Microsoft added faster ways for you to find information and get
insights without leaving Word with the Smart Lookup feature.5 This powerful
tool allows you to perform quick searches on words or phrases that you
select in your document. Get instant access to information from search
engines, online dictionaries, and other web-based sources to save time when
writing and researching.

2017: various reading methods

In 2017, Microsoft continued to build on its accessibility features with Read

Aloud.6 This built-in feature allowed you to listen to your documents being
read aloud by your device. Microsoft also added Immersive Reader to provide
you more reading options and customizations, such as text spacing, font
choices, and page background colors.7 These new reading tools help users
who are blind, have low-vision, or prefer audio-based reading.

2018: animated graphics

In 2018, Microsoft Word incorporated an animated 3D graphics feature that
helps make your documents pop.8 Add beating hearts, orbiting planets, and
more creative visuals to your work. Use the library of pre-designed
animations and effects to customize the behavior and appearance of the
graphics you use. Captivate your audience with an interactive and immersive
reader experience.

2019: better concentration

Microsoft knows how important it is for you to stay focused whether you’re at
work, in school, or completing your daily tasks, so it added different modes
to help you use Word more efficiently. In 2019, Microsoft Word brought back
the popular Focus Mode.popular Focus Mode Focus Mode hides all the
toolbars and menus on your device to help you minimize distractions and
increase your concentration.

2020: Microsoft Teams integration

In 2020, there was a growing trend of remote work and online coauthoring,
so Microsoft wanted to make it easy to communication and collaborate
without opening multiple windows. Microsoft Word was integrated in
Microsoft Teams to allow you and your peers to write, design, and edit
documents in real-time, directly in one app.10 This helped businesses,
educational institutions, and different households work together, stay
focused, and get tasks done while apart.

2021: AI-powered writing

Microsoft Word continued to build on AI-powered writing tools and introduced

text prediction in 2021.11 This tool helped you add text with refined
grammar and similar style, inclusive language, and ways to improve clarity. If
you want more nuanced suggestions before you share your document with
the world, this feature can provide you out-of-the-box tips on what to write
next.

2022: elevated security and privacy

Microsoft knows how important data privacy and security is, and it’s
continuously implemented robust security features in Word. Some of the
latest features are enhanced encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA),
and Microsoft Defender integration.12 These upgraded security features
provide real-time protection against phishing attacks, malware, and other
cybersecurity threats to safeguard your personal data and information.
Over the past 10 years, Microsoft Word has evolved significantly as an
integral part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It’s emphasized the importance of
collaboration, accessibility, visuals, and AI, so it can continuously meet
evolving needs. As more technological advances occur, Microsoft will
innovate more features and embed them into Word to make creating
documents even more seamless and efficient. Keep using Word and other
Microsoft 365 apps to work better, faster, and enhance your overall
creativity. Cheers to 10 years!