Emotional Connections

Steve Jobs passed away yesterday.  Since the announcement, the world has praised his work, sympathized with his family, and expressed sadness over his death.  It may seem a bit strange for so many people to feel sad over the passing of someone they've never met, but I think this is really a testament to Jobs' impact in the world.

Jobs was extremely good at bringing new technology to the public in a way that delivers on the promise the technology has to offer.  He offered unparalleled taste in regards to the right mixture of technology and the arts.  Technology alone offers a lot of functional promise, but in a very cold and inaccessible way.  The arts add beauty, emotion, and interaction design to technology in order to make it easier and more enjoyable to use.  These qualities have lead to very successful Apple products that enable an experience that people genuinely love.  I think that it is this emotional connection that has many people sad on the day of Jobs' death.  Learning of the passing of someone who played an important role in so many great personal experiences is sad.