Dean Landsman

Digital Destiny is a vast topic. On a personal level it can be the devices one uses, the connectivity to one’s home, office, phone, tablet, TV or Roku, Alexa, and the various Internet of Things contraptions that permeate one’s life. Digital as part of destiny, or as the emerging reality, also plays a role in health, entertainment, education, sports, finance, art, and commerce.  Arguably, this means everything.

Who was the most influential person in the last half-century?  Who made so big an impact, a difference that his or her accomplishments gave direction for years to come?  In this, the Digital Strategy column, the answer is obvious: Steve Jobs.  He put a powerful computer in the pocket, pocketbook or on the belt of nearly everyone on the planet.  His music player got absorbed into those pocket computers.  The iPhone was the gateway to those powerful computers.  Computers that enable music and photography functionality and voice communication would have been unimaginable 50 years ago.

His surname was Jobs.  How prophetic.  The industries he triggered and the acceptance and adoption of connectivity and automated machinery helped propel a Digital Revolution. Jobs (Steve) created all sorts of new jobs (employment) and job categories that occurred, as a result of his efforts.