MONTREAL - The Woz had this message for computer science and engineering grads: Don’t be afraid to innovate.

The co-founder of Apple Computers, Steve Wozniak, better known as The Woz, was given an honorary doctorate by Concordia University Wednesday morning. In his address to graduates at the Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, he said the world needs engineers and computer scientists, because they have the tools to solve many of the world’s problems.

“We have a lot of real problems and the solutions often lie in the minds of engineers; that’s your job now,” Wozniak, 60, said.

Wozniak, who along with Steve Jobs invented one of the first mass-produced personal computers in 1976, told the class of graduates they don’t have to invent anything spectacular, but they should strive for excellence and innovation in everything they do.

“There’s always time for innovation, thinking about how can I do it a little better than I was taught,” Wozniak said. “If you are able to make things simpler, you’ll have done the world a great service.”

He added that much of the success of Apple has also had to do with the brilliance of Steve Jobs, and the way he was able to market the products to the mass public.

“Give marketing very high importance,” advised Wozniak, who ended his full-time employment with Apple in 1987, and went on to invent the first programmable universal remote control.

After his speech, Wozniak met several reporters for a question-and-answer session. He said he believes the next great technological innovation will be a robot that will be able to perform all human tasks.

“It will be able to make coffee and do the dishes, but it will also have feelings and I will be able to make it cry by telling it a very sad story,” he said. “I think we’re close to that – maybe 50 years.”

Though he has been on the television shows Dancing with the Stars and The Big Bang Theory, and has been celebrated as an inventor, Wozniak said he still cherishes every honorary degree he receives.

“The last one I got I held it and cried a bit,” he said.

Computer Science graduate Jean Paracelse Bernard said he was inspired by Wozniak’s speech.

“He told us not to let anything stop us if we have a dream,” he said. “It was a great message.”

jmagder@montrealgazette.com

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