“It is strange for someone that you have never met to affect your life in the way that Steve Jobs has affected mine. His vision, drive and ability to truly innovate might never be equaled,” said Phil Komarny, executive director of computer information and technology at Seton Hill University (SHU).
On Oct. 5, 2011, Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., passed away after a long battle with cancer, but his legacy will live on.
Since its founding in 1976, Apple has been responsible for incredible innovations in technology.
From the first color computer monitor to the first full touchscreen smart phone, Apple has been setting trends for over three decades.
In 1984, Apple’s commercial for their new Macintosh urged society to break away from conformity.
It argued that 1984 wouldn’t be the oppressive society that George Orwell predicted it would be in his classic piece of literature. Since then, the world has never been the same.
According to Komarny, Jobs’ spirit will forever be a part of Apple’s core essence.
“What I am not sure about is if there is anyone out there [who] can use that spirit and continue to fascinate us on the scale that Steve did,” he said.
In today’s society, we are always connected via our mobile phones to each other and to the Internet.
Whether it’s the ability to Google something on a whim or laugh at a shared auto-correct failure, we all have Jobs to thank.
According to Frank Klapak, professor of communication and education, Jobs
influenced our entire global village.
“The shape and direction of that village has been reformed to reflect enormous changes in our communication, economics, cultural perspectives and development as individuals.
“And, we certainly spend much more of our income on temporary phones, computers and devices that are outdated as soon as we buy them.”
Of Jobs, Apple’s official statement on its website said, “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius.”
Despite his brief absence for a few years, the company now acknowledges that his drive and innovation were responsible for its success.
“Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
Jobs, along with co-founders Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne began Apple Computer Inc. with the selling of the Apple I personal computer.
From there, they expanded to the Apple II, Macintosh, iMac, Mac Pro and so on.
Although Apple’s history is littered with ups and downs, it regained its glory from its early years when Jobs returned in 1996 while still heading Pixar Inc., the computer graphics company responsible for awarding winning films like “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo”.
Steve Jobs’ passing will go down in history as a day where the world lost an important individual.
Although some people may consider themselves “PCs” rather than “Macs”, it’s really hard to not acknowledge the man’s creativity and desire to push the envelope of technology further and further.
Jobs was famous for saying that the general public didn’t know what they wanted; that it was his job to figure it out and deliver.
