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Apple Co-Founder Wozniak Talks Tech In Fresno

Jeffrey Hess/KVPR
Steve Wozniak

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak visited Fresno Thursday night to talk technology at the opening of the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall Lecture Series.

Wozniak spoke to a packed crowd at the William Saroyan Theater, including more than 1,000 students, about the importance of science, engineering and technology in the modern economy.

Wozniak says despite disadvantages in the valley such as high poverty and unemployment, it is possible for young people here to replicate his success.

“Having ideas and turning them into products and companies is so important for the youth. And obviously, the future is a lot less resource based economies and a lot more knowledge based economies. And Fresno has a huge lead over everywhere else I have been,” Wozniak said.

Wozniak is generally seen as the technical mind that launched Apple Computer and its PC revolution into the American mainstream. Wozniak left the company in 1985 but stayed in the tech industries.

Wozniak said he recalls as a young boy traveling through Fresno with his family. Some have compared Fresno to how Silicon Valley was before the computer industry exploded. Wozniak thinks that comparison is not far off.

“I think that I could have done what I did if I lived in Fresno. I think I could have had access to what I needed to develop what I developed,” Wozniak said, “It doesn’t matter where we are in the world. It is big time here. I believe that.”

Wozniak has been portrayed multiple times in movies about Apple and Steve Jobs including a new release this year called “Steve Jobs”. When asked which actor’s portrayal of him her preferred Wozniak said, “It is hard to pick a favorite because there have been many good ones. Josh Gadd was an incredible actor. I think you should pick a good actor. Seth Rogan is so cool. And I want to be cool.”

However, Wozniak did not offer any opinion on the newest film.

Jeffrey Hess is a reporter and Morning Edition news host for Valley Public Radio. Jeffrey was born and raised in a small town in rural southeast Ohio. After graduating from Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio with a communications degree, Jeffrey embarked on a radio career. After brief stops at stations in Ohio and Texas, and not so brief stops in Florida and Mississippi, Jeffrey and his new wife Shivon are happy to be part Valley Public Radio.