It’s fair to say Steve Wozniak saw value in the personal computer and its transformative capabilities long before most did.
Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, spoke of his early days as an innovator and shared his thoughts on the future of technology Thursday at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee.
Wozniak headlined a fireside chat at the U.S. Cellular Tech Tour. The half-day event included a series of other rapid-fire talks with leading experts in new and emerging technology, in addition to tech showcases.
During the hour-long conversation, Wozniak reflected on working with fellow Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and dug even deeper into his past as he shared his vision of bringing what then was a mammoth-sized device into the homes of consumers across the globe.
In his youth, computers were bulky and expensive, but Wozniak said, “I always wanted one for myself.” This became a reality with the company’s unveiling of the Apple I.
But Wozniak, who served as the head engineer in Apple’s early days, said his proudest accomplishment was the development of the Apple II computer in 1977, which built on the innovations from the earlier model. It was an 8-bit home computer.
“It changed the world the most,” Wozniak said of the Apple II. “That one made the difference. That one was going to be the successful machine.”
Wozniak also shared his thoughts on working with Jobs. Jobs was viewed as the face of the company — a notion Wozniak said he was comfortable with since he enjoyed tinkering behind the scenes.
Accounts over the years pointed to strife between the two Steves as Apple grew into a powerhouse in the 1980s.
But Wozniak threw cold water on any such thinking during Thursday’s chat in Milwaukee. Despite having different personas and skill sets, Wozniak said Jobs respected him, and vice versa.
“We never had a run-in. We never had a disagreement,” Wozniak said. “Sometimes it gets misinterpreted in the press because they want to be sensationalist.”
Looking to the future, Wozniak said he is optimistic of the possibilities for blockchain technology and the internet of things.
Wozniak compared today’s Blockchain to that of the internet in its most basic form two decades ago.
Speaking to the late 1990s and early 2000s conversations regarding the Internet — before the dot-com bubble burst — Wozniak said the robust optimism circled around, “How can we apply solutions to life’s problem? Companies got funded all over the place based on these dreams.”
Realizing the true potential of internet applications “didn’t happen right away, and it did take a while,” Wozniak said. He said he holds similar hopes for Blockchain.
Wozniak said he also sees great potential in the road ahead for the internet of things.
“It does make a lot of sense,” Wozniak said of connected devices. “I find it a good experience as a consumer.”
Regardless of the era of innovation, the industry or the company, Wozniak on several occasions touched on an overarching principle — ethics — and its importance.
“Don’t be greedy and don’t do things just for money,” Wozniak said.
