The idea is simple – make a document that is in writing in Microsoft Word instantly available over the Internet. This is done by extending Word with a Web Server, that on request from the Browser serves the open document as HTML (without manually saving and publishing it).

Had a discussion with friends about hiring tasks for software engineers to evaluate their skills - let them code a multi-threaded Web Server before talking to them was a proven way. I asked myself the question - what happen when a Product Manager tries to code a Web Server? The result of the experiment can be tested here.

Adding a Web Server into Microsoft Word (the tool Product Managers spend most time with) is close to insane, but - I admit - was fun coding and might even be useful somehow (although I'm yet struggling to put it in words..)

The name "WordCasting" is just one more in the list of hype “casting-everything” - lead by Podcasting.

Download the prove-of-concept document here.

Tested on WinXP SP2 with Word 2003 and local Browser.

Enjoy

Posted by Cedric on Sunday, August 21, 2005 at 8/21/2005 07:10:00 PM | Permalink