Microsoft argues that as the cost of microprocessor technology continues to fall, more and more office machines are using digital technology, incorporating inexpensive but powerful microprocessors and significant amounts of memory, yet the benefits to the end user have been relatively slow to come. The things are still ridiculously difficult to program (should you really need to get out the fax machine manual to work out how to store a number under a button?) and although computers generate digital output, except in the case of the laser printer, it can’t be sent direct to the digital office machine that is to process it. The Microsoft At Work architecture sets out to create digital connections between all machines to enable information to flow freely among all device types throughout the workplace. The components comprise operating system, communications, rendering, graphical user interface, and desktop software that runs under Windows. The Microsoft At Work operating system is a real-time pre-emptive multitasking operating system designed to address the requirements of the office automation and communication industries. It supports Windows-compatible application programming interfaces where appropriate for the device. The communications provides the link between Microsoft At Work-based devices and personal computers. It will support the secure transmission of original digital documents, and it is compatible with the Windows Messaging and Windows Telephony programming interfaces of the Windows Open Services Architecture. Rendering is intended to make the transmission of digital documents, with formatting and fonts intact, very fast while ensuring that a document sent to any output device will produce high-quality output, for which Microsoft has coined the ghastly phrase What You Print Is What You Fax Is What You Copy Is What You See – WYPIWYFIWYCIWYS or wippywiffiwickywhiz, heaven preserve us. The graphical user interface is intended to make all devices very easy to use and to make the more advanced and complex features accessible and to provide useful feedback to users. The desktop software for Windows-based personal computers will provide Windows applications with the ability to control, access and exchange information with any product based on Microsoft At Work.
