| Bonzi Buddy is a prototype of a personal assistant on the
Internet. Its worldwide success shows that the demand for on-line
companions in the Internet jungle is real.
When you turn on your computer, Bonzi Buddy swings onto the
screen to introduce itself and to get to know you better. A
faithful companion when you're searching and browsing, Bonzi is
fully integrated to Internet Explorer. Bonzi likes to learn about
your centres of interest, in order to make relevant propositions
while you surf the Net. It can act as a download manager, remind
you of your upcoming appointments and if you are interested in a
product, compare different sites to find the best price. Besides
these useful services, Bonzi also entertains you by singing songs
and telling jokes and amazing facts.
Bonzi Buddy runs on MS Agent (Microsoft Agent) technology, used
in making communicative 3D characters. Visually, Bonzi Buddy is
truly impressive, as it moves around the screen and talks in a
realistic way. The little gorilla's animations complement its
sense of humor nicely.
Bonzi Buddy is a pleasant tool in the freeware version, but
reaches another dimension in the paying version that has plug-ins
that let you voice-control Bonzi, receive alerts when you get
e-mail and have your messages read out loud. Over time, Bonzi
Buddy also learns new games and jokes, to extend its
conversational base. This cute gorilla is a good companion for
beginners who want to explore the Internet in a fun way.
Multi-talented and multi-faceted, Bonzi points the way to a
possible future where personal assistants will accompany users
and help them optimize their journeys on the Internet.
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