I've been thinking about this since the announcement of his passing and it really bothers me. Steve Jobs didn't change the world. He, and his wonderful i-Stuff offered convenience, beauty, access, and inspiration to the 0.0000000001% of the wealthiest people in the world who could afford to buy his products. I doubt there is a single person reading this post who doesn't fall into that category.
This thought makes me feel slightly like one of those overly earnest parade rainer people. But the outpouring over his death makes me wonder: what do you really have to do to really truly change the world? How many people do you have to affect, or is it enough to affect the elite or the wealthy who get to make all the rules anyway?
I like to think that there are other organizations who are doing more, could do more, have greater, more meaningful impact that doesn't dissipate as soon as the next version of whatever they are doing comes to market.
It makes me feel better to put my emotional investment behind organizations like War Child, the Gates Foundation or Worldreader.org. These organizations are changing the world in a way that you personally won't ever feel in the same way that holding that new shiny thing in your hand makes you feel--unless you get involved. They are changing the world in a way that we all need--not want, but need--more than ever. And if you haven't had the chance to experience the kind of happiness buying an e-reader for an impoverished child can give you, I highly recommend you give it a try, and you can do this through any device you want.
Anyway, I think Steve Jobs' greatest legacy won't be his inventions, but his words. We can aspire for more.
