Steve Jobs, the Passing of an iCon

Today Steve Jobs died. There is sadness in that knowledge. There are thoughts of things that won’t ever be, goals left unaccomplished, experiences that won’t be had. Think not of those things. Instead think of the contributions he’s made. He created a company that changed the way we use computers, taking them beyond just machines that are practical and useful. More than any other individual, Steve Jobs taught us that technology can be beautiful and easy to use. He insisted on it. It shows in every Apple product. He challenged the status quo and gave it a thorough ass kicking. Through his leadership of Apple he’s affected entire industries, not to mention the lives of millions of people – from the lives of Apple’s employees, to the designers inspired by Apple, to the customers that use Apple’s products. His influence will continue to be felt for a long time to come. The iPod and iTunes changed the way we purchase and listen to music. The iPhone changed the mobile industry and the way people use their phones. The iPad is beginning to affect the publishing industry. Steve Jobs raised the bar in no small way for years to come. For all those things, we can be thankful.