Steve Wozniak

Co-founder, Apple Computer, Inc. & Chief Scientist, Fusion-io

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple's first line of products. Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc., in 1976, and the rest has been history. For his achievements, Wozniak has been awarded the National Medal of Technology and the Heinz Award, and was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Wozniak currently serves as Chief Scientist for Fusion-io and is the author of his bestselling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon.

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A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple's first line of products the Apple I and II and influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak's Apple I personal computer. The following year, he introduced his Apple II personal computer, featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive. The Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry.

In 1981, Wozniak went back to UC Berkeley and finished his degree in electrical engineering/computer science. For his achievements at Apple Computer, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed on America's leading innovators.

In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment for "single-handedly designing the first personal computer and for then redirecting his lifelong passion for mathematics and electronics toward lighting the fires of excitement for education in grade school students and their teachers."

After leaving Apple in 1985, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. Making significant investments of both his time and resources in education, he "adopted" the Los Gatos School District, providing students and teachers with hands-on teaching and donations of state-of-the-art technology equipment. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.

Wozniak currently serves as Chief Scientist for Fusion-io and is a published author with the release of his New York Times bestselling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon, in September 2006. His television appearances include reality shows, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List and season eight of ABC's, Dancing with the Stars.

Mr. Wozniak takes a very customized approach to each presentation he delivers. He speaks directly with the event host to ensure a topical focus that is unique, conversational and an excellent tie-in with the overall event. The result is a highly personalized, unforgettable talk delivered by one of the most influential pioneers of the technology industry.

October 2007
iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It
"The Woz" built the first [personal computer]?by hand, by himself.??USA Today. Before slim laptops that fit into briefcases, computers looked like strange vending machines, with cryptic switches and pages of encoded output. But in 1977 Steve Wozniak revolutionized the computer industry with his invention of the first personal computer. As the sole inventor of the Apple I and II computers, Wozniak has enjoyed wealth, fame, and the most coveted awards an engineer can receive, and he tells his story here for the first time.