Steve Jobs, the Thomas Edison of the 20th and 21st Centuries

Truly, few men make such a tremendous impact on life changing technology as did Steve Jobs. His passing at age 56 was a sad day indeed. Not only will he be missed for his entrepreneurial spirit, but he was a humanitarian as well. His many brilliant technological advancements will be his enduring legacy. In my humble opinion, Steve Jobs is the Thomas Edison of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Thomas Edison was a renaissance man. He held the patents on some of technologies earliest brilliant achievements. Okay, so you don't think the light bulb is such a big deal now, but try living without artificial light for a couple of days and it's easy to appreciate. Now, imagine living in the years just before, and just after the invention of the light bulb. This is impressive on it's own, but for Edison, it was one of hundreds of patents, inventions and the inspiration of inventions for which he is credited. The carbon microphone used in early broadcasting, and telephones, the design and production of the first commercially available flouroscope which is now known more commonly as an X-Ray machine, are just two projects few people know are attributed to Edison. He died at age 84 in 1931. Thomas Edison spent his life as an inventor, and at the very least, he will always be remembered for the invention of the light bulb.

Steve Jobs was a renaissance man of a more modern era, but no less important. It may not have been the light bulb, but Macintosh computers revolutionized the personal computing market. He may be mostly remembered for recent triumphs like the iPhone, and iPad, however he made a much larger technological impact than just those devices. The iPod changed portable music forever, making the walkman and the discman obsolete. The various versions of the iPod were stepping stones to the iPod touch, and the iPhone. The iPhone revolutionized the "smart phone" world, and for me, made the first true "pocket computer"!

So being a renaissance man in the vein of Thomas Edison is not only a tremendous legacy, but while Edison's accomplishments span 84 years, Steve Jobs made nearly as big an impact in just 56! Rest in peace Steve Jobs, and thank you for all you've done to better our lives and the world in general.