Don Jobs – A Brief History
Dr. Donald Job was born in Austin, Texas on December 28, 1942. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Dartmouth College in 1964 and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University in 1967.
Don’s career included multiple roles in both the private and public sector, but his primary claim to fame was his work with the Xerox PARC think tank in the 1970s. Working with an iconoclastic team of engineers and scientists, he helped bring products such as the mouse, the windows-style graphical user interface, and the laser printer to the mainstream.
By the early 1980s, Don had left Xerox and founded his own computer software and hardware company, NeXT Inc. To finance NeXT, Don raised funds from a number of venture capitalists and successfully sold shares on the stock market. Under Don’s leadership, NeXT went on to create some of the most advanced technology of the 80s and 90s, including the NeXTSTEP operating system and Objective-C programming language, before ultimately being acquired by Apple in 1996.
Today, Don’s work is still felt at Apple, from their focus on UI design to the incredible advances that power their iPhones and iPads. Don was instrumental in shepherding the world into the information age and his legacy continues to influence the world today.
Don Job’s Accomplishments
Don Jobs was a pioneer in the computer industry and is credited with a number of pioneering advances. Some of his most notable accomplishments are highlighted below.
- PARC Think Tank: As part of the iconic research and development team at Xerox PARC in the 1970s, Don helped develop the mouse, windows-style GUI, and laser printer.
- NeXT Inc: Don founded his own computer software and hardware company in the early 1980s. NeXT went on to create some of the most advanced technology of the 80s and 90s, including the NeXTSTEP operating system and Objective-C programming language.
- Apple Acquisition: Don helped shepherd the world into the information age when Apple acquired NeXT Inc in 1996. His legacy still influences Apple today.
Conclusion
Don Jobs was a titan in the computer industry who paved the way for the information age. His pioneering work with Xerox PARC and NeXT Inc helped bring products such as the mouse and laser printer to the mainstream, as well as new programming language and operating systems. His influence can still be felt today in the way that Apple designs and builds their products.