“Three apples that changed the world: the one that Eve ate, the one that fell on Newton’s head and the one that Steve built. Thank you, Steve.”

So wrote a Twitter user as a condolence message for Steve Jobs. Who was Steve Jobs? I wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t heard the name before last week when he passed away at the age of 56, succumbing to pancreatic cancer. The eulogies that continue to pour since Jobs’ death have been almost overwhelming. This was no political leader, royalty, rock star or Hollywood celebrity. The way his fans have reacted though, it seems he was someone who had led his men to victory or one who had touched them by his profound songs or through earth shattering movie performances. No, Jobs was just a corporate CEO. But the outbreak of emotion from everyone who knew of him has been what one would demonstrate for a dearly loved family member. His followers are heartbroken.

People were crying outside the Apple stores around the world, and shrines were erected within hours of his death with fans placing flowers and various other forms of tribute to the late co-founder of Apple Computers. Strangely, though, he did not actually invent anything new. Desktop computers, music on the move (i.e. MP3 players) and a tablet-sized computer existed before Apple came out with the i-Mac, the i-Pod and the i-Pad. But it was reading the psyche of the consumers and turning technology into the most attractive, user-friendly mode possible that gave all things Apple the edge over its competitors. And that was Jobs’ doing.

Steve Jobs conceptualised the touch-screen facet of computer technology and caught the world’s fancy with his ‘i’ range of products. Life changed after that for millions around the world for whom entertainment and communication became the most attractive and must-have commodity. It would be difficult to find households without an Apple product. Teenagers with i-Pods in their pockets have become iconic symbols of current times.

When I first acquired my i-Pod and discovered the joy of accessing any music that I wanted, anywhere, anytime, my life literally changed and I was actually more serene and peaceful even in times of stress. And then when I gave my father the i-Pod 3 for his 80th birthday, he was ecstatic that he could access all his favourite sonatas, concertos and many operatic favourites by just clicking a button. Ever since his lovingly bought cassettes and then CDs of his favourite composers had become corrupt and mouldy, he hadn’t enjoyed music. And now this joy was contained in one hand-held device.

That was the revolution that Steve Jobs brought to everyone’s life. He understood what people most desired, what could make them happy and how to make that package as attractive as he could. The day before a new product was to hit the stores, people would line up as if they were waiting for their favourite celebrity. Yes, just like Harry Potter fans camping for days outside bookstores. But it is understandable when one wants to be the first to read the next episode in a story, what could be so earth-shattering about a new electronic product and why would a day or two make a difference?

As it’s being reiterated by his fans, it was Steve Jobs’ ability to “realise what we wanted before we realised it ourselves,” which gave Apple products their thrilling feature. What exciting new aspect would the next gadget have would keep the techies glued to Jobs’ next move. Apple devotees believe that no other computer is worth working on and for them Steve Jobs’ death is a personal blow because with Jobs alone handling all the innovations in technology for the past 15 years or so, who, they ask, will now think on their behalf?

This adulation for a marketing executive is also a sign of the age we are living in, where material objects and monetary triumphs are measures for success; where the human touch is becoming extinct and where feelings for electronic gadgets run deeper than for a friend or family member at times. Ranging from teenagers to young university students to new professionals, I have often heard the comment, “I will never be able to survive without my Macbook” or “… my i-Pod” or “… my i-Pad.” These youngsters however would easily survive without human interaction.

His life’s story reads like a movie script in which he was fired from his own company by his friend turned rival and then re-hired as the company’s head because of his dynamic achievements on his own and the rest after that is history. His name as an innovator is being ranked amongst inventing giants like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford – visionaries who thought of the future or made an ‘app’ for it!

maheenrashdi@yahoo.ca