Wozniak, Steve (1950-…), an American engineer, is one of the cofounders of Apple Inc. (originally Apple Computer, Inc.). Apple manufactures personal computers and develops and publishes computer software.
Stephen Gary Wozniak was born in San Jose, California, and grew up in nearby Sunnyvale. In 1971, he took a job as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard Company, an electronics firm. Prior to joining the company, he had attended three colleges but had not earned a degree. Around this time, Wozniak met Steve Jobs, another young computer enthusiast. In 1975, Wozniak and Jobs built a simple, inexpensive computer that could be connected to a display monitor. Jobs encouraged Wozniak to go into business with him to make and sell computers. In 1976, the two founded Apple Computer, and they began selling computers based on their early design, which they called the Apple I. In 1977, Apple introduced the Apple II, a successful home and small-business computer.
In 1981, Wozniak left Apple and returned to the University of California at Berkeley, which he had left in 1971. He was awarded bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science in 1986. Wozniak’s association with Apple had made him wealthy, and he devoted his money and his time to such interests as sponsoring music events and teaching computer science.
See also Apple Inc. ; Jobs, Steve .
