The Heart of an Apple: The Journey from Hobbyist to Tech Legend
Stephen Gary Wozniak, known as “Woz,” was born on August 11, 1950, in San Jose, California. Raised in the Santa Clara Valley, later known as Silicon Valley, his father, Jerry Wozniak, was an engineer at Lockheed, which ignited Wozniak’s early interest in electronics. His mother, Margaret Louise Wozniak, was a homemaker who supported her children’s educational pursuits.
Wozniak’s fascination with technology started early; he built his first computer at age 13 and was constructing homemade gadgets from kits and from scratch. His high school years were marked by pranks and technical achievements, like a homemade calculator, which won him first place in a science fair. However, formal education didn’t captivate him; he dropped out of the University of Colorado and later from the University of California, Berkeley, where he briefly studied electrical engineering.
In 1971, through a mutual friend, Wozniak met Steve Jobs, and they bonded over their shared love of electronics and pranks. Together, they created “blue boxes” for making free long-distance calls, an early venture that foreshadowed their future business endeavors. This collaboration led to the founding of Apple Computer in 1976 with Jobs and Ronald Wayne.
Wozniak was the technical genius behind Apple’s first products. He single-handedly designed the Apple I, a computer kit for hobbyists, but it was the Apple II in 1977 that truly put Apple on the map. The Apple II was revolutionary for its time, featuring color graphics, an open architecture, and ease of use, making it popular in schools and homes. Wozniak’s designs were crucial to the early success of Apple, embodying his philosophy of creating technology that was accessible and fun.
After a near-fatal plane crash in 1981, Wozniak took a hiatus from Apple to focus on education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley in 1986. Although he officially left Apple in 1985, he remained an honorary employee, receiving a stipend and maintaining an ambassadorial role for the company.
Post-Apple, Wozniak pursued various entrepreneurial and educational endeavors. He founded CL 9, a company that developed the first programmable universal remote control, and later Wheels of Zeus, focusing on wireless GPS technology. His love for teaching led him to work with children, promoting hands-on learning in technology.
Wozniak’s philanthropy is notable, particularly in education. He established the Electronic Frontier Foundation and was a founding sponsor of several cultural and educational institutions in Silicon Valley. His contributions to technology and education were recognized with numerous awards, including the National Medal of Technology.
Less known is Wozniak’s interest in music; he played pranks by building devices to disrupt TV signals in college dorms and even had a brief stint as a stand-up comedian. He’s also known for his passion for Segway scooters, once investing in the company.
Further Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wozniak
https://computerhistory.org/profile/steve-wozniak/
https://www.woz.org/about/