10 Times Steve Jobs Was Right About Technology & Innovation

Steve Jobs was a technology hero for the ages. The American entrepreneur, technological wizard, and visionary, Jobs was a co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc. and was a monumental part of the company’s success. Following his illness-related death in 2011, Jobs’ influence still lives on. Several biographies have been written about him and his impact on technology and society remains strong. Steve Jobs is well known for his passionate quotes, full of wisdom. Here are 10 times Steve Jobs--called genius, visionary, a legend--had the right ideas about technology, innovation, and the world.

1. "It's in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough — it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing and nowhere is that more true than in these post-PC devices."
2. “These technologies can make life easier, can let us touch people we might not otherwise. You may have a child with a birth defect and be able to get in touch with other parents and support groups, get medical information, the latest experimental drugs. These things can profoundly influence life. I'm not downplaying that.”
3. “Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works. The design of the Mac wasn’t what it looked like, although that was part of it. Primarily, it was how it worked. To design something really well, you have to get it. You have to really grok what it’s all about. It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something, chew it up, not just quickly swallow it. Most people don’t take the time to do that.”
4. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
5. “Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.”
6. “But it’s a disservice to constantly put things in this radical new light — that it’s going to change everything. Things don’t have to change the world to be important.”
7. “Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.”
8. "What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up with. It's the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
9. "I would trade all my technology for an afternoon with Socrates."
10. “Technology is nothing. What's important is that you have a faith in people, that they're basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them.”

The Future of 3D Printing

3D Printing. Now there’s an exciting, yet often unfathomable advancement in technology. 3D printing has been making waves in the news, and for good reason. It’s an incredible step forward, having practical, real-world effects, and making a positive impact on so many industries. Let’s take a minute or two to lay out just exactly what 3D printing is, why it’s so important, and what the future may hold. An Incredible Process

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the creation of multi-dimensional objects from a wide variety of materials, produced using many layers. Essentially, a digital model is turned into a substantial structure. The printing starts with a CAD file in which images are built in 3 dimensions. This information is than transferred to the printer, and layer by layer, the object is produced.

Truly, this is a revolutionary concept. As researchers have experimented with 3D printing, they’ve been able to craft objects from metals, plastics, and even human cells. One practical application of 3D printing technology might lead to the ability to download files right at home, then, using the correct 3D printer, print out a need item, such as a replacement part for an appliance.

Where is this Being Used?

At the moment, 3D printing is in experimental stages for some of the major things we’ve heard about in the news, such as printing human organs. Currently, some major companies utilise 3D printing to create prototypes of new products. 3D printing is an easy and faster way for these companies to have models of new designs and developments. President and CEO of Autodesk states that the real benefit of 3D printing will be in industrial markets, where this kind of technology could shape the future. He says that for industrial fabrication, 3D printing is a thing of beauty. Bass states that with 3D printing, “shape complexity is free. I can design anything I want to on the computer, and with little to no skill I hit the 'Print' button, and the right thing comes out."

What Will the Future Hold?

There are many possible avenues for the future of 3D printing, depending on its usability in the home or for personal use, as well as its growing popularity and accessibility. In other arenas, the future appears even brighter as there is a huge variety of practical applications for 3D printing.

As 3D printing is new and emerging, no companies are currently the market dominators. This gives rise to many opportunities to take advantage of the opportunity to get a stronghold and find their niche. 3D printing could open up whole new realms of industry.

Certain industries, such as health care, are likely to benefit immensely from 3D printing. Printing which manufactures much needed health care equipment could meet a vital need. This could keep expensive and necessary equipment in top working order, as replacement parts could be produced right in-house. In terms of 3D printing of organs or human tissues, some experiments have been successful, but it is a longer way off to mass-producing these things or making them accessible or affordable at this time.

Whatever the future of 3D printing holds, it is clear that this advent will change the face of technology for years to come.

Podcasts: Windows to Information

When thinking of technological advancements, one thing you may not consider is the podcast. While the idea itself is not groundbreaking, podcasts represent another side of the information age. Small nuggets of information and learning can be gleaned from these short, recorded and shareable “mini radio shows.” Podcasts exist covering almost any subject you could think of. While podcasts serve many purposes (many are purely for entertainment) an increasing number of podcasts are devoted to education and the sharing of ideas. Podcasts have become windows of information in our world. Podcasting to Share IT News

IT is one area that can use podcasts to an advantage. As folks in this industry are already well connected and “plugged-in”, a podcasts presents a great way to share bits of information in small, digestible formats. So many podcasts available are free to listeners, which makes sharing the knowledge even easier.

There are numerous great podcasts devoted to the subject of Information Technology. A fairly large list can be found here. When checking out a technology podcast, subjects can range from the most technical of new inventions, to general IT and computer news, reviews on recent releases, and numerous tips, tricks, and discussions. They present a valuable resource to those hoping to learn more in this area.

An Option for Learning

Podcasts provide a unique option for dealing with training or advancement. As individuals learn in all different ways and through different methods, a podcast is a wonderful way to cater to those who are auditory learners. Many trainees would benefit from audio lessons to help them along, and the length of the podcast can be tailored to the needs of each.

For certain companies and businesses, a podcast may be a great marketing tool as well. The employees could learn how to create and market podcasts which are specific to their company and its areas of expertise, which would be an excellent way to build their reputation and boost reach. As a popular format for entertainment and learning, podcasts could absolutely be a great choice for a company to look into.

Hone Your Skills With Podcasts

Anyone in business or IT should be keen to keep his or her brain sharp and fresh. Podcasts are an ideal way to grow those minds! Educational podcasts that teach, question, and get you pondering are serious brain-boosters. Learning something new, whatever the subject, allows an individual to hone their critical thinking skills, and actively listening to a podcast has the added benefit of increasing focus. A podcast may be a strong alternative to listening to music. Since podcasts come along in your phone or mp3 player, you can listen to it on the go, while you are commuting, exercising, or even shopping for groceries. In this way, your brain can be constantly receiving new, educational information. This is a win-win situation, as you will be acquiring interesting knowledge, and honing your sharp mind--making you more focused and motivated in the workplace. Podcasts truly are windows to information, and we should all try and incorporate them into our daily lives.