Steve Jobs said it best himself: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” As proven by his accomplishments, Jobs’ life was certainly the farthest from a waste. Through his innovation and creativity, the way in which the world views technology will never be the same.
“It is definitely sad that he died, but he definitely didn’t die in vain,” said Bria Purdiman a sophomore in Communications. “He left a really big legacy—he’s going to be in the history books.”
October 5, 2011 hit many people hard, including the Illini Tech Center Operations Director Timothy Braun.
“It was enormously sad,” Braun said. “(It) really caused me to pause and reflect on how he has inspired my own life, my career and so many other people’s (lives) as well.”
Braun says that he has personally been affected by Jobs’ “vision” and that he hopes he can relay that inspiration back to campus.
“I am just really glad that I have had an opportunity to work with and improve the Apple experience on this specific campus,” Braun said.
Jobs’ legacy doesn’t just extend to the people he has affected.
“The advancements that Steve Jobs made in industrial design are just incredible,” said Carrie Karahalios an Associate Professor in Computer Science. “In terms of transforming the path that everyone else is on, he (would) take these left turns and then everyone (would want to follow).”
Braun agrees.
“He was really a visionary (and was) great at bringing new technology out of the lab and directly to people,” Braun said. “(He made) things usable and approachable in a way that others weren’t able to.”
Jobs succeeded so well as an entrepreneur and creative visionary that it was no question that people wanted to follow in his footsteps.
“I think what he has done that is interesting is the way he has transformed the way people currently think. For example, people never thought you could make money selling music online but he found a way,” Karahalios said. “He also had this amazing gift of letting you know you want something before you even know it.”
A current concern for many is how Apple will progress and thrive as a company now that Jobs is gone.
“I think that Steve Jobs really made Apple as a company and a vision that could continue past his death,” Braun said. “I consider his to be similar to Henry Ford or Walt Disney where he was able to express his vision through his corporation so well that others will be able to continue with it.”
An event that some imagine may not be possible without Jobs is his yearly “Keynotes” presentations.
“One of the things that is like a brand of Steve Jobs is the yearly talks he gives,” Karahalios said. “The gift he has for presentations is something that is going to be hard to transfer to just anyone. It is going to be felt there.”
Purdiman concurs, “he really created an empire—it is going to continue to grow even without him being here.”