Steve Wozniak
Early Life and Education
Stephen Gary Wozniak, known as Steve Wozniak, was born on August 11, 1950, in San Jose, California. He was the son of Margaret Elaine and Jacob Francis "Jerry" Wozniak. His father was an engineer at Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace company, which likely influenced Wozniak's interest in electronics and engineering from a young age.
Wozniak attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he met Steve Jobs through a mutual friend. The two shared a love of electronics and computer design, which would later lead to their collaboration in founding Apple.
After high school, Wozniak enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied electrical engineering and computer science. However, he did not complete his degree at that time, choosing instead to work on the design and construction of the Apple I computer.
Career
Apple Inc.
In 1976, Wozniak and Jobs co-founded Apple Inc., with Wozniak primarily responsible for the hardware engineering and Jobs focusing on the business and marketing aspects. The first product they released was the Apple I, a single-board computer that Wozniak had initially developed for his own use. The Apple I was followed by the Apple II, which became one of the most successful early personal computers.
Wozniak's design philosophy was to make the computer as small, simple, and inexpensive as possible while still maintaining high performance. This approach was instrumental in the success of the Apple II, which remained in production until 1993.
In 1981, Wozniak was involved in a plane crash that caused him to temporarily leave Apple. He returned in 1983 but left again in 1985, although he remained an employee and shareholder.
Post-Apple Career
After leaving Apple, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures. He founded CL 9, a company that developed the first programmable universal remote control. He also founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization dedicated to defending civil liberties in the digital world, and the Tech Museum, a museum of science and technology in San Jose.
In addition to his business ventures, Wozniak has been involved in various educational initiatives. He has taught computer classes to children and teachers, and in 2001, he founded the Woz U platform, an online learning platform focused on technology and software development.
Personal Life
Wozniak has been married four times and has three children. He is known for his philanthropy and his support of various charitable and educational organizations. He is also known for his love of music and has sponsored several music festivals.
Legacy and Influence
Wozniak's contributions to the field of computer engineering have been widely recognized. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor in the United States for technology and innovation. He was also inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 2000.
Wozniak's design philosophy and his focus on making technology accessible and affordable have had a significant impact on the development of personal computers and the broader technology industry.
See Also
References
1. "Steve Wozniak." Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Wozniak 2. "Steve Wozniak." Computer History Museum. https://www.computerhistory.org/profile/steve-wozniak/ 3. "Steve Wozniak." National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/stephen-g-wozniak