History of Computers - Steve Wozniak
Reed Brace
Steve Gary Wozniak was born August 11, 1950, and is known for his part in the creation of Apple as well as for inventing the Apple I and the Apple II. Wozniak not only started one of the largest computer companies in the world, he also started Wheels of Zeus, to make wireless GPS technology.
Overview
Wozniak dropped out of the University of California in 1971 to create the Apple I, single handedly creating and designing the the Apple I hardware and Operating System. 5 years later(1976), he helped to found Apple Computers. After the success of the Apple I, Wozniak went on to later design and create the Apple II, the first computer to have colored graphics. The Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced personal computers. Wozniak ended his employment at Apple in 1987, 12 years after creating the company. Even though he does not work with Apple, he still remains an employee and receives a token paycheck, est. to be roughly 120k per year. Wozniak went on to start WoZ (Wheels of Zeus) in 2002 to "help everyday people find everyday things. much easily." He is also banned from sending highscores into "Nintendo Power", for sending in too many scores. He continued to send in scores, under the alphabetically reversed "Evets Kainzow". At the advent of their company, Steve Wozniak pitched his Apple I design to HP, which was rejected by David Packard.
Signifigance
Steve "The Woz" Wozniak created two of the most influential, popular, and famous computers ever. He was a major part in the microproccessor revolution. Wozniak single handedly changed computing, twice. He helped Steve Jobs in the creation of Apple, which went on to make numerous devices, such as the The Macintosh, the iPhone, the Apple I, and numerous other devices.
Refrences
http://www.biography.com/people/stephen-wozniak-9537334
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wozniak
http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/presidentsoffice/honorary_degrees.jsp
