Bill Atkinson, renowned for his transformational contributions to Apple's GUI designs and the development of HyperCard, passed away from pancreatic cancer on June 5. His work enabled graphical interfaces on Apple's Lisa and Macintosh, revolutionizing personal computing. Atkinson’s legacy stretches to shaping early web browsers through his HyperCard, which set a precedent for modern online experiences. Steve Jobs personally recruited him to Apple, emphasizing the exhilaration of innovation and creativity. Atkinson’s views on bridging art and technology continued to resonate, highlighting his impact on both casual users and developers alike.
Before these innovations, personal computers were dominated by text-based interfaces and arcane command lines. Atkinson's QuickDraw software library was the technological engine.
Jobs told him: "Think about surfing on the front edge of a wave. It's really exhilarating. Now think about dog-paddling at the tail end of that wave."
His pioneering work in graphics libraries was responsible for Apple's Lisa and Mac interfaces. All modern graphical user interfaces (GUIs) owe a debt of gratitude to Atkinson.
Atkinson once said, "The barrier between words and pictures is broken. Until now, the world of art has been a sacred club. Now it's for daily use."
Collection
[
|
...
]