By DON FRASER Standard Staff
October 7, 2011
It’s the famous simplicity of the Macintosh computer that captured Jesse Otta’s young imagination.
That grew into a complex relationship with Apple products and the Zen-like philosophy of founder Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday from pancreatic cancer.
Many, like Otta, have penned comments about Jobs’ death using social media the entrepreneur long championed.
Otta and others spoke with The Standard about Jobs’ revolutionary impact on technology and communication.
As a boy, Otta was wowed by the stability, quality and paradigm-breaking aspects of the technology.
Even now the St. Catharines resident uses Apple’s “i” products to make commutes to Toronto for his job as a financial services job at Meridian Credit Union more bearable.
“The culture and branding of the company was directly influenced by Steve’s simple, common-sense style and approach,” Ottawa wrote in an e-mail.
“What I really liked was his ability not to put things into products— what to leave out.”
Janice Arnoldi, chapter leader of Social Media Club Niagara, is another admirer.
“Steve Jobs inspired so many in his lifetime, that continuing to inspire long after he’s gone will be one of his greatest achievements,” said the downtown St. Catharines resident.
“He … made (products) with complicated functions that are so simple to use.
“And he continued to do that throughout his career from the day he created his first Apple Mac to the iPhone 4S released earlier this week.”
His death is also an unwelcome loss, Arnoldi added.
“I’m only four years younger than him,” she said. “It’s just tragic for someone to die at 56.”
Brock University psychology professor John Mitterer’s recent interests focus on the psychology of media, especially related to teaching and learning.
Mitterer said he’s been using Apple products since the beginning “and on and on it goes.”
“Steve Jobs was brilliant at understanding what it’s like to be a human being, and bending the technology around that,” he said.
“It’s (about) this unyielding focus on tools that will make us more human than ever.”
Mitterer adds many technology giants in Jobs’ day were otherwise “busy envisioning the technology, then expecting people to wrap themselves around it.”
He said Jobs’ eclectic cultural experiences are “a lovely example of how a truly global perspective can produce truly global results.”
dfraser@stcatharinesstandard.ca
Some (verbatim) area Twitter responses to Steve Jobs’ death:
Agree RT @fouj: “I don’t think it’s possible for any CEO to be as loved and admired as Steve Jobs was & is.” #RIP Chelsey2point0
“RIP Steve Jobs. You have had a profound impact on how technology has advanced and how it will continue to change in the future.” Linna5
“wow steve jobs passes away. best to the family. rip” ArtisanalPalate
“Steve Jobs. Thank you!” andytallman
“RIP Steve Jobs” HockeyStud1988
“The true testament to the coolness of #stevejobs is that no one on twitter is making a stupid joke about his death.” benwhipps
“@pour_mea_coffee: “#SteveJobs has died 
In completely unrelated news, My eyes have begun leaking a salty tasting fluid of some sort…”
“RIP Steve jobs. Thanks for all your smarts!” 88BigAl88
Janice and Robin are two of the founding members of