We have come a long way from the
days when computers existed only in labs isolated from the outside world. Today
we are talking about internet of things and ubiquitous computing with computers
all around us from refrigerators to cars. One company which has been a part of
our world throughout this fast paced transformation of technology has been Microsoft. It made computing simple.
Computers existed for a long time but it became a part of our lives only with Windows.
Technology without accessibility is of no use and Microsoft’s greatest
contribution to this society has been making computing accessible to all.
My first interaction with a
computer was in school. I vividly remember going to “Computer Lab” with our
shoes off in long queues. It was the only place with an air conditioner on
campus. The computer-lab day on the timetable was the most awaited day for the
students. It was also our first introduction to Microsoft. We learned that the
system in itself is just a box, it is this great company that makes it so fun
and easy to use. It marked the start of my fascination with the company that
later changed my world completely.
What changed my world was a
personal computer. A box powered by Microsoft Windows allowed me to do things I
had not imagined before. It brought the world to my fingertips. A massive amount
of information at my disposal at all times. I could talk face to face with my
family far away, play games that felt so real and create reports and presentations
that were so much more attractive than books. The feeling was surreal. I had my
first Microsoft device and my life had changed.
It has been over a decade since
that day and Microsoft continues to have the same impact on my life. I now have
a touch laptop and the Windows 8 running on it has taken the GUI to another
level. Extremely easy to use it gives you immense power. Being a b-school
student, MS-Office is almost a part of my life. Everything has to be put in a
document or a PowerPoint and with Office 365 and OneDrive I can seamlessly move
between devices and continue my work on my Windows mobile.
The journey has been long and the
impact has been incredible. Microsoft has been changing our lives slowly and
subtly at various levels and it continues to do so. It is hard to imagine our
world today without Windows and Office. They are continuously working hard to
make our lives better.
To be honest I feel dwarfed, in my endeavour to bring a change to the society,
in front of such a huge agent of change. I shall still try to the best of my
abilities to bring some change around me through this association with
Microsoft as a Microsoft Student
Associate. I have always felt technology is a great medium of change, especially
in the education sector. India’s education desperately needs more technology,
and internet can be a great empowerer. I tried to do my little bit in my
previous organisation as part of its CSR committee. We taught a group of
underprivileged children and it was amazing to see them use email and basic
computing to bring change in their lives. In this new role I would like to
expand the horizon for underprivileged children.
The latest technology like
OneDrive and Windows for mobile and tablets has great potential. It can bring
technology in the hands of people still untouched by it. I will like to act as
an enabler spreading awareness about wonders this can do. Office 365 is another
software that has such potential. Microsoft products are always extremely user
friendly, so the challenge is not to learn how to use but to realise the power
of products.
There is so much that one can
write about the impact that Microsoft has had on society or the impact that you
can create by an association with it. It is just a matter of opportunity. If I
am the fortunate one I will make sure I make this count for me, for Microsoft
and for the society.
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