Last night the world learned of the passing away of Steve Jobs, the founder and former CEO of Apple. The front page of the Apple website now simply hosts a picture of Steve Jobs, which links to a tribute by the company.

Steve Jobs' contributions to the technology world will not be forgotten. He is the primary reason we have multi-touch smartphones, iPods, also a key driving force in innovation on the desktop computer front and lest we forget behind the reinvention and domination of the tablet computer market with the iPad. Steve Jobs was a true visionary in every sense of the word, not just founding Apple, but returning as CEO in 1997 to change the fortune of the then dwindling company. Since 1997, Apple has gone from sinking ship to one of the most valuable companies in the world.

He dragged the world into the 21st century with technological advances that have left many companies far behind. Whether an Apple fan or not, day to day many of us either directly use an Apple product or use something influenced by Apple, a testament to his contribution. The technology world will miss him.

But first and foremost he leaves behind his family. Their loss will be much deeper and more personal and, on this sad day, our thoughts should be with them.

RIP Steve