Jef Raskin, 9 March 1943 - 26 February 2005, was a computer scientist, cognitive psychology expert, and user interface pioneer. He worked for a world where computers served people, rather than forcing people to do things in the computers' often unintuitive and unsafe ways. He is most famous for his work at Apple Computer, where he was employee number 31. In 1979, he began the program that led to the Macintosh. He was the original director of the program, and led the project, until forced out by Steve Jobs. In 1982, he left Apple. He is still called the father of the Macintosh. He invented click-and-drag selection in graphic user interfaces (GUIs), the one-button mouse, and other inventions. He coined the term and the concept of 'information appliances'. After Apple, he went on to work for Cannon where he broke new interface ground with the Cannon Cat word processor and computer. His last project was an operating system and user interface called THE, The Humane Interface, which he renamed Archy. Besides many technical accomplishments, he was a skilled pianist, recorder player (he played three instruments), composer/improviser, orchestra conductor (for the San Francisco Chamber Opera Society), writer, newspaper columnist, juggler, bicycle racer, race car driver, model airplane designer, archer, ping-pong player, photographer, and visual artist. He died of pancreas cancer, tragically young, at age 61, on a Saturday, peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones.
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