Steve Wozniak, born Stephen Gary Wozniak, is an American computer scientist, engineer, entrepreneur, and inventor best known as the co-founder of Apple Computer alongside Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne. A central figure in the personal computer revolution of the 1970s, Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I and Apple II, machines that helped bring computing out of laboratories and corporations and into homes, schools, and small businesses.

Early Life and Education

Steve Wozniak was born on August 1, 1950, in San Jose, California, United States, into a family of Polish descent. He was the son of Margaret Elaine Kern and Jacob “Jerry” Francis Wozniak. He grew up with two siblings, Leslie Carol Wozniak and Mark Kern Wozniak.

He graduated from Homestead High School in 1968 and later studied at University of Colorado Boulder, De Anza College, and University of California, Berkeley. Although he left Berkeley before completing his degree in order to work at Hewlett-Packard, he later returned and completed his degree in electrical engineering and computer science.

Meeting Steve Jobs and the Homebrew Computer Club

Steve Wozniak met Steve Jobs in 1970, when Jobs was working as a summer intern at a company where Wozniak was involved with mainframe computing. Their friendship grew through a shared fascination with electronics, computing, and experimental technology.

In the mid-1970s, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs became involved with the Homebrew Computer Club, a local community of engineers, hobbyists, and computer enthusiasts in Silicon Valley. While Jobs focused on the commercial possibilities of personal computing, Wozniak concentrated on elegant engineering solutions and affordable computer design.

Founding of Apple

Determined to build a company around personal computers, Steve Jobs persuaded Steve Wozniak to turn his designs into a commercial product. To raise the initial capital, Jobs sold his Volkswagen van, while Wozniak sold his programmable HP calculator.

On April 1, 1976, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer. The first Apple machines were assembled in the garage of Jobs’s family home. Steve Wozniak became Apple’s vice president of research and development, while Jobs took charge of promotion, business strategy, and marketing.

Apple I and Apple II

Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I, one of the first single-board personal computers with built-in read-only memory and a video interface. The first units were sold to the Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, for $666 each.

In 1977, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs introduced the Apple II, a groundbreaking personal computer with color graphics and a user-friendly design. The machine became one of the best-selling personal computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, helping establish Apple as a major technology company.

Beyond hardware, Steve Wozniak wrote important software for Apple systems, including programming tools, a disk operating system interface, code for disk drive control, and early game-related software such as Breakout. Working with Randy Wigginton, he helped develop key disk and file system functions for the Apple II.

Apple’s Growth and the Macintosh Era

Apple’s success accelerated after investor and executive Mike Markkula joined the company and helped secure venture capital. In 1980, Apple Computer went public, turning its founders into multimillionaires.

While Steve Wozniak remained most closely associated with the Apple I and Apple II, the company later developed the Lisa and Macintosh, systems that helped popularize the graphical user interface and computer mouse. These later products reflected the expanding ambition of Apple under Steve Jobs and other company leaders.

Plane Crash and Departure from Apple

In February 1981, Steve Wozniak crashed a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft while taking off from Santa Cruz Sky Park. The accident caused temporary memory loss, including retrograde and anterograde amnesia. He later said that playing Apple II computer games helped him recover his memories.

After the crash, Steve Wozniak stepped back from Apple’s daily operations. Although he officially remained connected to the company, he turned his attention toward education, philanthropy, and independent ventures. In 1981, he returned to University of California, Berkeley and later completed his degree.

Later Ventures and Technology Projects

After leaving active management at Apple, Steve Wozniak founded CL 9, a company that developed programmable universal remote controls. In 2001, he co-founded Wheels of Zeus, also known as WoZ, to develop wireless GPS-based technologies designed to help people locate everyday objects.

He later worked with former Apple executive Gil Amelio through Acquicor Technology and became involved with several technology ventures, including Ripcord Networks and Danger, Inc.. He has also served as chief scientist at Primary Data.

Education and Philanthropy

Steve Wozniak became deeply involved in education after his Apple years. He taught fifth-grade students in Silicon Valley and supported technology education programs in the United States and abroad.

He was also a major supporter of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. In recognition of his contribution, the street in front of the museum was named “Woz Way.” His commitment to learning and creativity has remained one of the most consistent themes of his public life.

Awards and Recognition

In 1985, Steve Wozniak received the National Medal of Technology from United States President Ronald Reagan. In 1997, he was named a Fellow of the Computer History Museum, and in 2000 he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

He has received honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Colorado, North Carolina State University, Kettering University, and Nova Southeastern University. He has also received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment.

Personal Life

Steve Wozniak has been married several times. His first marriage was to Alice Louise Robertson from 1974 to 1977. He later married Candice Clark in 1981; they had children named Jesse John Wozniak, Sara Nadine Wozniak, and Stephen Gary Wozniak Jr. The marriage ended in 1987.

He married Suzanne Mulkern in 1990, and the marriage lasted until 2004. He was later in a relationship with comedian Kathy Griffin between 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Steve Wozniak married Janet Hill.

Business and Cultural Importance

Steve Wozniak is widely regarded as one of the essential engineering minds of the personal computer revolution. While Steve Jobs became known for product vision and marketing, Steve Wozniak represented the technical brilliance that made Apple’s first breakthrough computers possible.

His designs for the Apple I and Apple II helped define the early personal computer industry and influenced the development of modern home computing. Through his engineering, teaching, inventions, and public appearances, Steve Wozniak remains one of the most admired figures in technology history.

Source: Biyografiler.com