Latest news with #BillAtkinson
The Drive
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Big Rig Clips Bucket Truck Leaving Worker Dangling For Dear Life
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A technician servicing a traffic light had a horrible day at work this week when a semi-truck thwacked the bucket they were suspended over an intersection in, leaving them dangling upside-down over the pavement. Somebody's dash cam captured the scene perfectly. The worker was lucky enough to escape without major physical harm, but I doubt they'll be excited to go back up in one of those buckets after this. The video clip is pretty dramatic. The incident occurred in Denham Springs, Louisiana, which is a little east of Baton Rouge. The clip has been uploaded to all kinds of YouTube channels and Facebook groups, apparently originally uploaded to Facebook by Bill Atkinson: Local ABC news channel WBRZ talked to the Denham Springs Police Department and reported that 'the worker suffered only minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital because they had a harness on.' I never thought about those guys having safety harnesses, but now that I'm seeing this clip, of course, it makes sense. The investigation, and whether or not any charges will be filed, are pending. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has to get involved because the traffic light in the video is operated by the state. Looks like the service crew was either from a local agency or a third party, though. The markings on the work trucks don't look like LaDOTD ones. 'I don't know how that truck could have made that turn without hitting one pole on one side without hitting the truck,' East Baton Rouge Parish Director of Transportation Fred Raiford told WBRZ . The outlet shared Raiford's comments on safety as well: 'Anytime people is working in the roadways, there's signage that's required or there's barricades saying this part of the lane will be closed.' Apparently, lane closures are not always required by policy for certain road work situations, though. As far as I can tell, the big rig driver and the road crew share the blame for this one. Anyone driving anything should be aware of the space their vehicle occupies, especially commercial drivers. The person running that big rig is responsible for the airspace that the top of the cab and trailer take up. That said, putting somebody in a bucket over an open lane of traffic seems nuts to me. Why the heck would you not put signs and cones out to keep vehicles from driving under the person working up in the harness? I'm guessing that's the question the Louisiana DOT will be pondering when they investigate the incident. At least the person up there had their harness on. Be careful out there, sometimes there can be things to crash into where you don't expect them! Got a tip? Drop us a line at tips@
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Video captures 18-wheeler hitting electrical worker in Louisiana
STORY: :: Eyewitness video captures the moment an 18-wheeler hits an electrical worker in Louisiana :: Bill Atkinson :: June 25, 2025 :: Denham Springs, Louisiana :: Although left dangling upside down, the worked escaped without injury The impact left the worker dangling upside down, attached to a safety harness. But he reportedly escaped without injury, according to local media reports. Local media reported that the crash was still under investigation. Reuters was able to verify the location by the buildings, road layout, business signs and trees which matched file and satellite imagery. Reuters was also able to verify the date by the timestamp on the dashcam.
Web Release
10-06-2025
- Web Release
Apple Visionary Bill Atkinson Dies at Age 74
Bill Atkinson, a pioneering figure in Apple's early history, has died at the age of 74 due to pancreatic cancer. His passing was announced by his family on Facebook, prompting tributes from across the tech world. As Apple employee number 51, Atkinson made lasting contributions that helped shape the personal computing revolution. During his time at Apple, Atkinson worked on several groundbreaking projects. He was instrumental in the development of the Macintosh, contributing not only code but also creative ideas that defined the user experience. Moreover, he played key roles in creating the Lisa computer and QuickDraw, a graphics engine that became fundamental to Apple's graphical interface. He also developed the Magic Slate, an early touch interface that foreshadowed the iPad, and HyperCard, a software tool often seen as a conceptual predecessor to the World Wide Web. A Legacy of Innovation and Creativity Atkinson's impact on Apple and the broader tech world cannot be overstated. His work not only influenced future products but also shaped how people interact with computers today. HyperCard, for instance, introduced concepts like linking between cards, which anticipated the hyperlinking used on the internet. This made Atkinson not just a skilled engineer, but also a visionary who saw the potential of technology before others did. Although he eventually left Apple, Atkinson remained deeply creative. After his time in Silicon Valley, he turned to nature photography. This new passion reflected his lifelong appreciation for beauty and precision. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, he acknowledged the richness of his life, writing that he had 'already led an amazing and wonderful life.' Tributes from the Tech Community Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from prominent voices in the tech industry. Apple CEO Tim Cook praised him as 'a true visionary whose creativity, heart, and groundbreaking work on the Mac will forever inspire us.' Additionally, technology writer John Gruber said that Atkinson 'may well have been the best computer programmer who ever lived.' While his physical presence is gone, Atkinson's influence endures in every touchscreen swipe, intuitive interface, and link we click.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Forbes
Remembering Bill Atkinson: A Creative Genius Who Helped Shaped The Mac
Bill Atkinson, one of the original engineers on the Macintosh team, whose ripple of creative contributions has impacted billions of people, passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. Bill was a giant in Silicon Valley. He was one of the most critical members of the Mac Team and created QuickDraw and MacPaint. I vividly remember when MacPaint was demonstrated during the introduction of the Mac in 1984, and like most of us in the audience, I was in awe of the new user interface of the Mac. Indeed, MacPaint was the key app demonstrated at the Mac launch that showed us the potential of the Mac and a graphical user interface. He was a brilliant software engineer for Apple, creating software that allowed users to display shapes, images, and text on the screen and present a simulated "desktop." My friend John Markhoff, writing in the New York Times, explained Mr. Atkinson's major contributions to the Mac and his impact on graphical user interfaces- "It was Mr. Atkinson who programmed QuickDraw, a foundational software layer used for both the Lisa and Macintosh computers; composed of a library of small programs, it made it possible to display shapes, text and images on the screen efficiently. The QuickDraw programs were embedded in the computers' hardware, providing a distinctive graphical user interface that presented a simulated "desktop," displaying icons of folders, files and application programs. Mr. Atkinson is credited with inventing many of the key aspects of graphical computing, such as "pull down" menus and the "double-click" gesture, which allows users to open files, folders and applications by clicking a mouse button twice in succession." While Mr. Atkinson's contributions to the Mac GUI and functionality were many, he developed another program that, when he showed it to me in 1987, convinced me it could dramatically impact computing in the future. Atkinson conceived, designed, and implemented HyperCard, an early and influential system. HyperCard put the power of computer programming and database design into the hands of non-programmers. Introduced by Apple in 1987, HyperCard was a groundbreaking software tool that combined the flexibility of a database, the creativity of a graphic design tool, and the power of a programming environment into a single, user-friendly application for Macintosh computers. Its core metaphor was the "stack" of virtual "cards." Each card functioned like a page or screen, capable of holding text, images, buttons, and fields, and users could navigate between cards to create interactive, non-linear experiences. One of HyperCard's most innovative features was its built-in programming language, HyperTalk, which enabled users to script behaviors for card objects—such as buttons or fields—without needing advanced programming knowledge. This language made HyperCard accessible to many users, from educators and artists to business professionals, who could rapidly prototype applications, build databases, create interactive presentations, or even develop simple games. Its influence extended beyond its original purpose: HyperCard inspired the development of early web browsers and scripting languages like JavaScript, and its concepts of hyperlinking and user-generated content anticipated the World Wide Web. The concept of hyperlinking caused me to tell The Washington Post at the time that, "We're talking about a new way of delivering information. The fundamentals of the technology have been there awhile. The blending is happening now." Web browsers basically hyperlink information in context, and Bill Atkinson saw this in 1987, well before we had web browsers and the public Internet. The last time I saw Bill and spoke with him was on Jan 24, 2024, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Mac. This event celebrated the original Mac team and it was a historic gathering. Here is a link to the video of the celebration. If you have time, it is worth watching many of the original Mac team members talk about their creations. Bill Atkinson was regarded as one of the heroes of Silicon Valley and will be greatly missed. Disclosure: Apple subscribes to Creative Strategies research reports along with many other high tech companies around the world.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
WWDC 2025: Apple CEO Tim Cook meets winners of Swift Student Challenge ahead of the conference
Apple is all set to host its annual developer conference – Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) tonight. The event will kickstart at 10am PT (10:30pm IST) with a keynote from CEO Tim Cook. Ahead of the event, Cook has shared a video on Twitter of him greeting the winners of this year's Swift Student Challenge. He captioned the video 'Love starting #WWDC25 with our Swift Student Challenge winners!'. Apple's Swift Student Challenge recognises 50 Distinguished Winners who will visit Apple Park for a special three-day experience. WWDC 2025: How to watch livestream As mentioned above, the livestream of Apple WWDC 2025 will begin at 10:30pm IST. The keynote will be livestreamed on the Apple TV app, and YouTube, with on-demand playback available afterward. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 봄 출근길에는 유어턴 팔찌 이렇게만 차 봐 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo Apple will also host more than 1,000 developers and students at Apple Park for a special in-person celebration on opening day. Following the keynote, Apple will present its Platforms State of the Union at 1 PM PDT on June 9, offering developers a deeper dive into new tools and technologies across Apple's software platforms. The presentation will stream via the Apple Developer app, website, and YouTube channel. WWDC 2025: What to expect The conference is expected to showcase major software updates including iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, tvOS 19, and visionOS 3. Industry reports suggest Apple may unveil significant design overhauls across its operating systems, potentially borrowing visual elements from the Vision Pro interface with new frosted glass aesthetics and muted colours. Apple Intelligence enhancements are also anticipated, though the company faces pressure to deliver on AI promises made at last year's conference. Developers will have access to over 100 technical sessions throughout the week, along with group labs and one-on-one appointments with Apple engineers. Tim Cook pays tribute to Bill Atkinson Bill Atkinson, the Apple Computer designer instrumental in creating the graphical user interfaces that made the Lisa and Macintosh computers accessible to millions died last week. Paying tribute to Atkinson, Cook wrote on X: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Atkinson. He was a true visionary whose creativity, heart, and groundbreaking work on the Mac will forever inspire us. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.' What to Expect at WWDC 2025: iOS 19, AI, M4 Macs & More
