About Our Ring Formed in September 1997, The Microsoft Agent Ring is worldwide organization of websites featuring Microsoft Agent technologies. Microsoft Agent is a set of programmable software services that supports the presentation of interactive animated characters within the Microsoft Windows interface. Developers can use characters as interactive assistants to introduce, guide, entertain, or otherwise enhance their Web pages or applications. Microsoft Agent enables software developers and Web authors to incorporate a new form of user interaction, known as conversational interfaces, that leverages natural aspects of human social communication. In addition to mouse and keyboard input, Microsoft Agent includes optional support for speech recognition so applications can respond to voice commands.
Characters can respond using synthesized speech, recorded audio, or text in a cartoon word balloon.
A Ring is collection of web sites that have a similar interest linked together in a ring. There are thousands of rings in existence today covering nearly every topic imaginable. Microsoft Agent 1.0 was never officially released. All comments, suggestions, and complaints regarding our ring are welcome. If you find a site that is offensive, missing the ring logo and links, or is no longer available - please let us know.