While a computer science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Steve Capps started working at the Xerox Corporation and learned about graphical user interfaces (GUI).
[5] In 1979, Capps wrote and designed Dali Clock for the Xerox Alto, the first GUI personal computer workstation.
[6] The New York Times journalist and computer historian John Markoff said Capps gave Apple's Macintosh "its distinctive look and feel," and represented the company's "most direct link to its early innovative tradition.
"[2] In 1984, Capps and Horn joined members of the original Macintosh team and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak for a Boston Computer Society Q&A panel after one of Jobs' earliest public demonstrations of the Mac - other team members present were Bill Atkinson, Owen Densmore, Andy Hertzfeld, Rony Sebok, Burrell Smith, and Randy Wigginton.
"[15] During a break from Apple from 1985 to 1987, Capps spent several years working in computer music and interface design.
Capps worked as head of user interface and software development on the Newton handheld device under the leadership of John Sculley, Apple's CEO at that time.
[2][22] Although the Newton failed to catch on as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and was discontinued in 1997, it was the first computer designed to fit in people's pockets when it was shipped in August 1993 and it proved influential.
[14][15] As of 2010, Capps was working at Silicon Valley start-up Kwedit, focusing on online payment systems.