The new generation of UK engineers have chosen Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs as the most influential computer engineer.
Jobs was the only computer engineer to be in the top three engineering heroes selected by 900 engineering undergraduates in the UK, who were surveyed by General Electric (GE).
Jobs claimed third place, beating Bill Gates at number five who was the only other computer engineer in the top ten ranks in the list of Engineering Heroes.
The first rank went to civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel for his work on bridges and railways, while James Dyson got the second rank for his work on vacuum cleaners.
The fourth place went to Nikola Tesla, while jet engine creator Frank Whittle is at six. The other icons in the top ten are Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce and Thomas Edison.
GE UK president and CEO Mark Elborne said, "Our research shows that iconic figures — both historic and modern — continue to inspire a new generation of engineers."
"We continue to see the impact of these icons all around us today; and our research shows that we have a proud tradition of pioneers and innovators in this country, which should be celebrated.
"With the very significant environmental, energy and healthcare challenges we face today and will face in the future, it is critical that we continue to inspire young people into engineering and science, nurturing future generations of Brunels, Newtons and Edisons."
Jobs has proved himself to be the master of his destiny. He broke many rules of marketing and product development. He laid stress on the design element and began new pricing models.
From being a non-enrolled student at Reed College in Portland, to the CEO of the most valuable brand in the world, the extreme highs and lows of Jobs’ story is an inspiration to many engineers.
In 1976, Jobs, Steve Wozniack and others, created Apple. However, nine years later, in 1985, he was voted off the board of his own company. Jobs left but founded NeXT Computer and made it successful. Apple bought Jobs’ company in 1996 and got him back on the board. After that Jobs started a new line of products, the ‘i’ line, which pushed the company ahead of competition.
Apple now owns 230 patents, and has become the most valuable brand in the world with an 84% rise in its estimated value to $153bn according to new rankings.
This month, a new report by brands agency Millward Brown put Apple at the first rank of top 100 global brands, pushing behind Google which was the in the No.1 spot for four-years.
Last year, Apple had edged past Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable technology company.
Jobs is on medical leave from Apple from January this year, but he personally unveiled the iPad 2 at an event in February. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004.