The Macintosh's Impact On Society

All the lights at the Flint Center in California go off on January 24 1984 – the entire world awaits in anticipation. Steve Jobs, suited up and bow-tied, reaches into a bag and pulls out a boxy beige device called Macintosh as the crowd roars and cheers him on. “Hello, I am Macintosh,” the robotic voice of the computer says. “It sure is great to get out of that bag!” (Macessentials) After two lengthy years of planning and development, the world is finally introduced to the Macintosh – a groundbreaking event in the history of technology and consequently mankind. Steve Jobs’ introduction of the Macintosh had an enormous impact on America as a society; the Macintosh was marketed as an essential commodity which in turn revolutionized family life

According to VOA News, years of war and social struggle had led to worn down spirits of many Americans. To escape from this, many sought out ways to spend time on their own (Kleinfeldt, Freeman). A perfect match to satisfy this need and fill the void appeared in the form of computers. Computers were not a new invention by any means – in fact they had been invented over forty years earlier. However, they functioned only as large machines used at corporate companies and universities and had not been integrated as a part of the American household. This changed radically in the Nineteen-Eighties. Computers became much smaller and easier to use; the Macintosh allowed Americans to work, read newspaper stories, buy things, and play games. It sparked a change in the way people perceived technology and provided a solid foundation for other creative entrepreneurs to build

During the Nineteen-Fifties, before the world knew of the Macintosh, post-war prosperity was enabling many American families to become more middle classed. TV shows like Father Knows Best and Best and Ozzie and Harriet reflected the fact that families now owned their own home, a car, and a television. However, cracks appeared in the middle-class American family. The societal norms placed on what it meant to be masculine and feminine asked too much from people and drained their creativity and spirit. As The USA Online mentions, women were expected to be everything from an alluring wife, a caring, selfless mother, a budget-minded shopper, a creative cook, to a neighbourhood volunteer (Active USA Center). It was expected of men, on the other hand, that they were muscular, emotionally stable, as well as financially providing. With these social expectations draining the character of Americans, the Macintosh served as a desperately needed escape. It was simple to use – almost anyone including children could operate it without studying a course to be an expert. It was affordable and had a price tag that was within reach for middle-class American families. It did not matter whether one was a man or a woman when they operated it. And It was seemingly capable of doing anything when Steve Jobs put it through it’s paces during it’s introduction – sing, solve mathematical problems with