Steve Jobs: A Few Memories (2011)
11 hours ago
- #Mathematica
- #Steve Jobs
- #Innovation
- The author expresses sadness over Steve Jobs' death and acknowledges his influence on his life projects: Mathematica, A New Kind of Science, and Wolfram|Alpha.
- First met Steve Jobs in 1987, who wanted Mathematica for NeXT computers; Jobs suggested the name 'Mathematica', which was adopted after discussion.
- Jobs provided input on Mathematica's design, including a suggestion for cell brackets that influenced hierarchical document structures.
- Jobs supported Mathematica's public release and bundled it with NeXT computers, boosting its adoption and contributing to its use at CERN for web development.
- Jobs' personal side was revealed when he shared nervousness about a date, which led to his marriage; their interactions decreased but remained impactful.
- Jobs advised against back-cover quotes for A New Kind of Science, leading to a design with pictures instead, reflecting his clarity and influence.
- Jobs' clarity of thought and bold decisions inspired the author, validating principles of quality and innovation in technology and business.
- Mathematica was consistently available on Jobs' devices, leading to secret porting projects and demos at Apple keynotes.
- Jobs encouraged development for the iPad, leading to the formation of Touch Press and a series of educational ebooks.
- Jobs' final major contribution was integrating Wolfram|Alpha into Siri on the iPhone 4S, enhancing direct access to computational knowledge.
- The author reflects on Jobs' life planning by decades, finding inspiration in his achievements despite his premature death.