When famous people pass on, it's inevitable that discussion about their legacy will take place; a reflection of their life's work, their deeds, their blunders, and the place their accomplishments will carve for them in the annals of time.
Several months after the death of Steve Jobs, well-known author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell has made bold remarks about the legacy Jobs will have in 50 years; or rather, the one he won't.
In a recent interview with Toronto Public Library's Appel Salon, Gladwell emphatically stated that Jobs will be long forgotten in 50 years, while Bill Gates will be revered across the globe on the strength of his philanthropic efforts, with statues of Gates' likeness dotting the third world countryside.
While for many, the instinctual reaction will be to refute Gladwell's comments, and laugh at the thought of a world that has forgotten Steve Jobs and his contributions to technology and the world, there is certainly some merit to his comments. After all, how many trailblazers from 50 years ago are still venerated today? How many people who at the time were considered to be doing revolutionary, world changing things have since become forgotten in the sands of time as the world moved on to bigger and better things, and their contributions became irrelevant?
Unless one firmly believes that Apple and its products will still be around in 50 years and will still be having an influence on the people of that era, why should anyone care about Steve Jobs in 2062? What will he have accomplished in his career that the people in 2062 will look at and say, "wow, where would we be without Steve Jobs?"
In that respect, I tend to agree with Gladwell's comments, and it's important to note that he also feels Microsoft will be long forgotten in 50 years, and that is not why Bill Gates will be remembered. So the statement wasn't one to compare their contributions to the world through tech, which will become obsolete with time, but rather their contributions to humanity and future generations, which Bill Gates will undoubtedly have a much greater impact on through his foundation and his philanthropic efforts.
Will Steve Jobs be forgotten in 50 years, or will his legacy live on? It's certainly an interesting debate, and one with valid arguments on both sides. No matter the end result, Steve Jobs had a profound impact on our generation and way of life, and that is something we can be grateful for, even if those in the future are not.
