Classic Gaming Expo Distinguished Guest:
STEVE WOZNIAK
Biography from Wozniak's own www.woz.org
A Silicon Valley icon and
philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak, Founder,
Chairman and CEO of Wheels of Zeus (wOz), 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. For his achievements at
Apple Computer, Steve was awarded the National Medal of Technology by
the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed
America's leading innovators.
In 2000 Steve 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.”
Making significant investments of both his time and resources in
education, Wozniak “adopted” the Los Gatos School District, providing
students and teachers with hands-on teaching and donations of
state-of-the-art technology equipment. Wozniak 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.
Steve is currently a member of the board of directors for Jacent, a
developer of cost-effective telephony solutions, and Danger, Inc.,
developer of a end-to-end wireless Internet platform.
Other Info
Born Aug. 11, 1950
Ham Radio license in 6th grade
Math, Science, Electronics awards
- 1972 U. Colorado, DeAnza, U. C. Berkeley (EECS program)
- 1976 Hewlett Packard, designing calculator chips
- 1979 designed early Apple Computer products
- 1984 heavy computer group speaking schedule
- 1980 became Fremason (California), currently lifetime member Charity
Lodge Campbell CA but not active
- 1983 US Festivals, San Bernardino CA
- 1983 sponsor, first 3 USSR space bridges
- 1990 San Jose CPA additions, San Jose Cleveland Ballet, Tech Museum
(first major sponsor), Children's Discovery Museum, other local projects
- 1984 Democratic convention delegate (Hart)
- 1987 BS EECS U.C. Berkeley
- 1987 sponsor, first joint US/USSR stadium rock concert (Moscow)
- 1990 sponsor, computers for schools in USSR (through U.S./U.S.S.R.
Iniative, Sharon Tenneson)
Major donor to needy goups and students
Uncountable awards from technology and community groups
- 1996 computer support for Los Gatos Unified School District, 11
modern labs, technology planning, computer lab plannings and wirings,
school LAN planning and wirings, district WAN planning and providing and
supporting (for now), classes for teachers on basic computer usage,
classes for teachers on network topics, classes for 5th graders each
year covering homework preparation, computer understanding, computer
maintenance, networks, etc (200 hours for the year), classes for
advanced students (5th through 8th grade) covering advanced graphics,
photography, video, sound, networks, programming.
Provided hundreds of laptops for local students, I've never taken one
back
Provided hundreds of America Online accounts for students and
ex-students.
Provided servers and Internet access for students and teachers locally
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