The first time I saw Steve Jobs in action was on a video of the 1999 Macworld San Fransisco keynote presentation where OS X was first hinted, where Microsoft Mactopia was first unveiled, where the iconic PowerMac G3 was revealed, and where the even more iconic multi-colored iMacs were introduced. I’ll always remember him popping open the side of the G3 to show the internals and wishing it was as easy to get inside the IBM Aptiva I was ready to replace. Looking back, some of the demonstrations and promises were painfully theatrical; some technologies fared better than others (remember FireWire?); but one thing sticks out. The energy and enthusiasm with which Steve Jobs approached his new products was contagious, and that enthusiasm never waned.
In recent years, Steve Jobs lost weight. He underwent cancer surgery. His health continued to fail. In his last few public appearances, he began looking older than his years. But he never lost his youthful enthusiasm. He never lost his energy on stage, and the never gave up that excited gleam in his eyes. His life was obstacle after obstacle in pursuit of his vision of technology becoming reality, and we saw that vision finally come to fruition during the last decade of his life. Think of it: ten years ago, there was no iPod. Five years ago, there was no iPhone. Two years ago, there was no iPad. Things we take for granted in today’s technological culture are there because of one man’s dream to never settle for a second-rate experience.
Whether you are using a mouse on your computer, a touchscreen phone, a tablet, or are listening to music you bought off the Internet, your life has been touched by Steve Jobs and his vision. No, he did not invent the mouse. He did not invent the touchscreen. He did not invent the MP3 player. He did not invent tablet computers, but he and those he worked with refined these things in such a way that they captured public imagination and redefined how we think about technology. He took what was once seen as cumbersome, problematic, and imposing and made it accessible, friendly, and inviting.
I think President Obama said it well in his eulogy:
By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.
Others have more and better things to say about Steve Jobs than I. Here are a few places I think you should visit:
- My Neighbor, Steve Jobs – Lisen Stromberg provides a very human picture of the man.
- Steve Jobs Was Always Kind to Me – Brian Lam of Gizmodo chronicles his relationship with Steve Jobs, including the infamous iPhone 4 incident.
- SJ – Matt Drance writes an inspiring eulogy.
- Making a Dent in the Universe – Jason Snell on the connection many in the Apple world had with Steve Jobs.
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