Coming to Window 8 Microsoft Bob! M$ is trying every thing but the kitchen sink.
Bill Gates thinks that Microsoft Bob, or at least the concept, will come back to life as intelligent personal agents become part of everyday computing. Microsoft Bob, introduced by Gates at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 1995, provided a virtual house with rooms and doors and cartoon character assistants to help navigate Windows and perform tasks with Microsoft applications. For example, clicking on the door knocker allowed users to log-in and clicking on a calendar on the wall launched the calendar application. (Read Harry McCracken's fine history of Microsoft Bob.)
Bill Gates says Microsoft Bob will make a comeback | Microsoft - CNET NewsThe new generation of personal agents will be more adept at planning activities, such as organizing a trip in a certain way, Gates said. Microsoft Bob won't come back as a dog, and will morph into a disembodied voice from the cloud, wrapped in the Windows 8 tiled interface, who understands all that you do or are willing to share online, anticipates your needs and presents relevant information anytime, anywhere and on any device. So far, Apple's Siri and Google Now are alone in providing modestly intelligent personal assistance from the cloud. Bob needs to get back to work.
Welcome in the "new" era...