Woz comes to EduComm

University Business, March, 2006 by Tim Goral

Steve Wozniak is the kind of guy for whom the phrase "been there, done that" might have been coined. Wozniak, of course, is the co-founder of Apple Computer (with somebody named Jobs). He designed and built the Apple I, the first single-circuit-board computer, which demonstrated the potential of bringing personal computers to the masses. The Apple II followed soon after, with its ability to display high resolution color graphics, and a beige plastic case that became the standard in PC appearance for years. The Apple II was the best-selling computer of the 1970s and early 1980s. As precursors to the Macintosh, later Apple II models introduced the familiar mouse-driven graphical user interface that every modern computer user knows well. Wozniak also designed the interface that allowed those early computers to use the first commercially produced floppy disk drives.

"Woz," as he is often called, could have rested on his laurels after that, but since leaving the company in 1985, he has devoted much of his time and energy--not to mention his personal fortune--to advancing the use of technology in education.

Just a brief list of accomplishments in this arena is also impressive. It includes building a dozen computer labs in the Los Gatos (Calif.) Unified School District, providing technology planning and wiring, local networks for the schools and wide-area networks for the district. Wozniak also continues to provide training for teachers on basic computer usage and network topics. His programs for students include 200 hours worth of classes a year for fifth graders covering homework preparation, computer understanding, computer maintenance, and networks, as well as advanced classes for older students covering graphics, photography, video, sound, networks, and programming. He's supplied hundreds of laptops for students, and he provides servers and internet access for students and teachers in the district. And his website says he loves children and dogs.

So it's fitting that Steve Wozniak should be the keynote speaker at the opening session of our third annual EduComm Conference in Orlando. He'll be on hand Wednesday, June 7, at 9 a.m. in the Linda Chapin Theatre (located in the Orange County Convention Center) to share his philosophy of education technology, and he'll take questions from the audience. If you want to learn more about what we have planned for this year's EduComm, see the insert in this issue or go online to http://educomm.educatorsportal.com.

HONORING ONE OF OUR OWN

And finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize our editorial director, Joseph J. Hanson. Joe is also our company's Chairman and CEO, and after March 23, he will be the 2006 recipient of the G.D. Crain Award by American Business Media, the world's leading association of business publishers.

Joe has led this company for 21 years, and he has built a broad-based operation that includes not only print publications--University Business and District Administration (for the K- 12 market)--but also websites, daily e-newsletters that serve both markets, the EduComm conference, our web seminar series, and custom publishing supplements.

As impressive as this is, Joe's contribution to publishing began much earlier when he created Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management in 1972. Although he sold the Hanson Publishing Group to Cowles Media in 1988, he continued to serve as Folio's editor-in-chief and publisher until 1991. The Crain award recognizes the past and current achievements he has made in publishing. Congratulations Joe.