Ms. Dewey was a
web search engine
A search engine is a software system designed to carry out web searches. They search the World Wide Web in a systematic way for particular information specified in a textual web search query. The search results are generally presented in a ...
by
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washi ...
, first unveiled in October 2006. Ms. Dewey was an
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash and FutureSplash) is a multimedia software platform used for production of animations, rich web applications, desktop applications, mobile apps, mobile games, and embedded web browser video players. Flash ...
–based experimental interface for
Live Search, where the eponymous Ms. Dewey, played by actress
Janina Gavankar, acted as an interactive search assistant for the user's inquiries. Ms. Dewey notably would audibly comment on searched keywords, and she would also perform a variety of random actions when idle, including taking props out from behind her desk. Furthermore, a cityscape featured behind Ms. Dewey would appear to change depending on the time of day.
Ms. Dewey was developed by advertising agency
McCann-Erickson and digital content marketing firm EVB
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
. Gavankar's responses, consisting of 600 different video clips, were recorded over the course of three days.
[Personal website http://www.janinagavankar.com][
Ms. Dewey became inactive in January 2009.
]
See also
*Bing
Bing most often refers to:
* Bing Crosby (1903–1977), American singer
* Microsoft Bing, a web search engine
Bing may also refer to:
Food and drink
* Bing (bread), a Chinese flatbread
* Bing (soft drink), a UK brand
* Bing cherry, a varie ...
* Tafiti
* Ask.com
*Office Assistant
The Office Assistant is a discontinued intelligent user interface for Microsoft Office that assisted users by way of an interactive animated character which interfaced with the Office help content. It was included in Microsoft Office for Windo ...
*The Subservient Chicken
The Subservient Chicken is an advertising program created to promote international fast food restaurant chain Burger King's TenderCrisp chicken sandwich and their "Have it Your Way" campaign. Created for the Miami-based advertising firm Crispin ...
*Microsoft Bob
Microsoft Bob is a Microsoft software product intended to provide a more user-friendly interface for the Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems, supplanting the Windows Program Manager. The program was released on March 11, 199 ...
Notes and references
{{microsoft-stub
Defunct internet search engines
Viral marketing