Rarely does it cross our mind how Microsoft has unintendedly rebranded existing words into their household names? Examples of these are Windows, Word, and Powerpoint, to name a few. When you think about it, these names are now almost synonymous with what we would mean when we refer to a PC’s operating system, a word processor, or an online presentation’s slides.
It wasn’t always this way.
The now multibillion-dollar tech company also had its humble start back in 1975, as a joint venture between childhood friends Paul Allen and Bill Gates. They knew that the personal use of computers would be the next big thing. They helped make that a reality when they created a simple programming language that made it possible for everyday people to learn how to use microcomputers. No one had imagined that to be possible at the time, as only highly-trained experts could use computers when they were first created.
Microsoft never stopped there. A passion for software, married with a commitment to making it easy for the average person to use and enjoy, only propelled the company to greater heights, especially as it entered the new millennium. It would spend its first twenty years with the release and development of Windows OS as well as Office, their suite of productivity apps. Since the early 2000s, it has only strengthened its hold on tech with the introduction of the gaming console, Xbox; further enhancement of their initial software offerings, Windows and Office; and acquisition of different companies such as Skype, Nokia’s mobile business, LinkedIn, and GitHub.
It’s safe to say that Microsoft is continually fulfilling its mission. Today, the tech giant’s influence can be felt at both home and work, even in ways we don’t consciously or fully realize. For Microsoft however, the sky’s the limit. As it expands its ventures to further innovation, as well as research into virtual reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, it inevitably widens and deepens the impact it already has on individuals and businesses alike.
