Bill Atkinson, an engineer who played a key role in the development of the Macintosh and other landmark Apple products, died of pancreatic cancer.
After Atkinson’s family announced his demise to FacebookSteven Levy of Wired provided Overview of many Atkinson’s achievements As Apple employee number 51. In addition to the Macintosh, the Apple projects he created or contributed to include the Lisa computer, Quickdraw, the magic Slate (pioneer of the iPad), and Hypercard (a pioneer of the World Website).
Atkinson, who was 74 years old, later became passionate about natural photography and, when he was diagnosed with cancer last year, wrote on Facebook that he “had already led a wonderful and wonderful life.”
In Post on XTim Cook, Director General of Apple, described Atkinson as “a true vision whose creativity, heart and innovative work on the Mac will forever inspire us.” And John Gruber of Daring Fireball wrote That “without hyperbole”, Atkinson “may have been the best computer developer who has ever lived.”
