The world is no stranger to the accomplishments of famous innovators such as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison, to name a few. One man, who has often been compared to these historical greats, has joined the ranks of famous innovators. From the original desktop computer to the sleek iPad tablet, Steve Jobs has single-handedly changed the way we see electronics. After the recent passing of Jobs, the world has been left grieving and wondering what is going to happen to technology as we know it.
As an adopted child and college dropout, Jobs has opened the door for unique individuals, like himself, to strive for their dreams without fear of failure. He encouraged the community to embody his ideal of “thinking different” in order to accomplish their dreams, because this had proved to be extremely successful for him. While Jobs was not condoning dropping out of college as the answer, his actions prove that he has always taken the unconventional route in order to reach his goals.
By the age of 21, Jobs and three friends established Apple Inc. The start to Apple was a long and difficult road. Jobs and his colleagues attempted to create personal computers that would rival the top electronic companies of the time, but their attempts proved unsuccessful. After several failed attempts and a partnership with rival company Microsoft, Jobs managed to keep Apple afloat, bringing Apple to what it is known as today.
Jobs, as acting CEO in 1997, introduced unique products under the Apple logo that have set the bar for all Apple products today. He introduced the Apple Online Store, which later became iTunes, and began a whole new line of desktop computers. The failing company soon saw their stocks rising slowly, which gave Jobs more breathing room in development. This breathing room gave way to the first iBook, but the company was not in the clear yet. Apple was still far behind its competitors, but Jobs never gave up. After perfecting the personal computer, Jobs and Apple unleashed its most profitable handheld electronic, the iPod, along with its own music selling technology through iTunes.
After the iPod, Jobs’ life had no other way to go but up. The iPod opened up opportunities for Jobs to unleash his creativity more than ever before. Next for Jobs, came many variations of the iPod that implemented touch screen technology. Jobs proved that he had the knack for creating electronic features that caused consumers to discover that this was what was missing from their lives all along. Some may think Jobs could see into the future or he was just a clever marketer, but there is no doubt he started a revolution for a dying company.
After Jobs’ resignation in August of this year, stocks began to decline. Some believe it was naturally occurring, while others believe it was directly related to Jobs’ departure. Now that Jobs has passed, the world is left without its most prominent and recent innovator.
As I mentioned earlier, there have been a slew of innovators of Jobs’ standard before him, and I am confident that he will not be the last of his kind. Without Jobs, my confidence in Apple has not changed. He has paved the way for Apple. Before his death, Jobs already set the standard for the whole company and surely left guidance for his fellow developers in order to keep the success of Apple thriving. After all, Apple, which many seem to forget, was not a “one-man show.” Though Jobs lead the way and opened doors, there are many individuals who are developing new technologies everyday with the same “think different” mentality that Jobs embodied.
The world has many new technologies to look forward to, despite the passing of Jobs. As I sit here with my iPhone and my MacBook, I realize the impact he has had on my life, let alone all the individuals on this campus, as well as the world. Rest in peace, Steve. You will be missed.
PHOTO COURTESY of vibe.com
