“The Woz” says it’s time to think differently about education and innovation

ProMat’s 30th anniversary coincides with the 30th anniversary of the release of the Apple IIe, which provided the exciting new ability to input and display lowercase letters. During Wednesday’s afternoon keynote address, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, affectionately known as “The Woz,” suggested the future of technology now is every bit as uncertain to him as it was then.

“Every generation says, ‘we’ve changed so much since the time of our grandparents,’ but when I was growing up it seemed that change was very slow. Now it’s so fast that it’s hard to keep up,” he said. “Maybe today’s generation thinks it’s a static world, there will always be different devices all around, and it doesn’t feel like much is changing.”

Whatever the future holds, it will be shaped by young people, he said, and we should all work to create new ways to educate, encourage and invite them to collaborate with existing businesses. When asked for advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Wozniak said both business and engineering skills are essential.

“You also have to include some inventors, who are not the same as engineers. You need a few folks who are constantly experimenting, and they should be close to the CEO,” he said. “This could be as simple as a few young people who are in touch by e-mail.”

Referencing the talent gap, Wozniak also commented on the need for change in the education system. Beginning in elementary school, students should be granted the tools and freedom to pursue their interests, he said, but technology is not necessarily the answer.

“The biggest problem for teachers is class size and managing the needs of students who might learn in very different ways,” he said. “Right now, computers and technology in the classroom are only used to educate in the same way we did 100 years ago. If a student is ill, was busy with a sport or activity, or just needs a little more time to complete an assignment, that flexibility of time in education is not possible. At this point, it’s more of a management problem than a technology one.”

Wozniak envisioned a computer intelligent enough to be like a best friend to a student, to help encourage and support the pursuit of the child’s passions, to help the student learn at his or her own pace, and to enable a one-to-one student to teacher ratio. “That ratio can never fail,” he said. “In the meantime, if you love something, that’s what you should follow. Don’t let school hold you back, either.”

Having played a historic role in the disruption of the technological status quo, Wozniak offered some advice to businesses wondering how best to keep pace with emerging technologies. “The Internet became the ultimate publishing medium, and the established publishers – the music studios, newspapers and movie studios – ignored it for a while. They wanted to keep turning the crank and doing what they’ve always done,” he suggested. “When you have a disruption, you can’t take it back. Many might feel that a newspaper is a better way to collect and absorb news, but these things get passed by as a new generation does things differently.”

Finally, Wozniak encouraged attendees to have fun.

“Feel free to build things just for fun, things that aren’t worth much or don’t make much money,” he said. “Because every time you do your brain and skills will improve. I did that a lot, just making things. Then Steve kept coming along, turning them into money and sharing it with me.”

ProMat 2015 is scheduled to be held March 23-26, 2014 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete ProMat 2015 coverage.