Yesterday, the "Science and Technology Summit 2010" took place at World Forum in The Hague, with the theme "Meet the Future". A successful event, organized by Platform Beta Techniek.
One of the lectures was given by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.
In 1976, Steve Wozniak decided to start a computer company together with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne. More than thirty years later, Apple has grown into one of the world's largest electronics companies. The white Apple logo has become permanently etched in our minds. The iPod has become a cultural icon. Wozniak, the technical mind behind Apple and designer of operating systems and hardware, honored "Meet the Future" with a keynote speech and a Q&A.
Steve Wozniak began his keynote speech with praise for mathematics and pursuing your interests, sprinkling in terms such as "fun", "happiness" and oddly enough also frequently "computers". He concluded his speech with a prediction of the future: voice control. "That will become more natural. If something needs to happen, I want to be able to say it."
The Woz
It was up to former 925 member Alexander Klöpping to then pose some interesting questions to Wozniak. About the Apple I, for example, which should fetch around $200,000 at an auction. "That's what it's worth", Wozniak believes.
"Every time I designed something, Steve Jobs found a way to sell it", Wozniak tells of Apple's early days. "You shouldn't modify existing things, but come up with new things", Wozniak explains the success of his products.
Wozniak has his own vision on many things. Education: "We don't ask children to think, intelligence means answering the same as everyone else." Work: "If you really want to have fun, choose technology. You stay busy yourself and can get rich from it. It's even fun if you don't succeed!"
Future
Besides more advanced voice control ("I don't want to learn a system step by step, I just want to say it"), Wozniak foresees more mobility. "It will almost become part of your body, just look at my iPod watch", he says proudly. And technology becomes more natural. "The more human, the better." Think of: saying thoughtful things and recognizing when you're getting tired. He himself no longer extensively programs new things. Only for himself: "I've upgraded my Segway."
Photo source: http://www.woz.org/
Dutch Wozzie Award 2010
He then presented the first Dutch Wozzie Award to Eco Tuk B.V., producer of energy-efficient vehicles. The Wozzie Award has existed in America for some time and is given to the most innovative talent. In the Netherlands, the prize, valued at €10,000, is intended for the most creative and entrepreneurial students. The jury of the Wozzie Award consisted of Jeroen van de Veer, chairman of Platform Beta Techniek, Robert van Brandwijk, editor-in-chief of METRO, and PG Kroeger, editor-in-chief of Science Guide.