Steve Jobs, whose vision domesticated the computer, is dead at 56

In a sad but expected follow-up to Chris's post from a little over a month ago, this entry marks the passing of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, who has died at the age of 56.

While many renowned leaders of industry are remembered for one big thing, or can have their accomplishments summarized in a cohesive way, Jobs had a career that can hardly be characterized by one--or even two, or three--major accomplishments. From the Apple II, to the original Macintosh, to Pixar studios, all the way to the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iTunes Music Store, Jobs continually reinvented himself and created new technological landmarks. Perhaps the one thing that these all have in common is the way in which they encourage us to take technology for granted, with the goal of elevating the user experience. As many pointed out during his lifetime, and continue to point out after his passing, this approach was a double-edged sword that often cleft away useful functionality right along with the cruft. But, I think it is also undoubtedly something that will cement Jobs's legacy and importance to the field of computing long after his death. What do you think?

The Washington Post has a very lengthy and insightful obituary of Jobs, and the obituaries in The Guardian and New York Times  are also worth a look. It's interesting to compare them with the premature obituary of Jobs that was accidentally published in 2008. You can also read what Jobs himself had to say about his life, and a short but telling piece from an Apple fan on ZDNet.

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