Microsoft 365, the replacement for Office 365 which brings together Microsoft’s productivity applications, is set to transform in the years to come. As it does from time to time, the publisher has unveiled a taste future developments.
The most notable change concerns the interface of Word, Excel and company: the colored ribbon at the top of the applications will disappear in favor of a simplified toolbar that we can move wherever we want on the screen. This toolbar will adapt automatically according to the context.
“Having a command bar that tracks your actions and takes context into account will reduce your cognitive load and allow you to focus on the task you are doing, and what you are on your phone in the subway,” on your tablet in the sofa or even at your desk », says Jon Friedman, head of design and research at Microsoft, at The Verge. We see on the first visuals a new really minimal toolbar compared to the one that adorns Microsoft applications today.
Among the other evolutions, search will occupy a more important place with a central search field capable of finding documents throughout the Microsoft 365 suite. Artificial intelligence will be used to more easily find the appropriate help and correct some errors. For example, Excel might warn you when you write an incorrect formula.
Microsoft also plans to strengthen collaboration between users and between its apps. The framework Microsoft Fluid will allow you to create data blocks that can be integrated into apps that can be updated independently.
Not all of these changes are set in stone yet: some will be rolled out within a year or two, while others are very experimental and subject to change or even fall by the wayside.
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