Over twenty years experience in the software industry - the last fifteen years working as an independent contractor.  During that time I have worked as a software developer, a manager of software developers, and project manager for various companies.  Most of my work during this period has been on educational and kid’s software.  On these projects, I have worked effectively with all levels of management, subject matter experts, artists, designers, QA people, and software developers.  Previously, I worked full time as a manager of software developers and user interface personnel.

Samples of major projects worked on as a contractor

Pure Digital Technologies, San Francisco, CA  “Flip Video”

Managed the development of a “viewer” application for the Flip Video digital camcorder.  On this project, I managed developers and maintained development relationships with external developers in Canada, Spain, and Singapore.  I also created prototypes of new features, and developed a demonstrable vision of a new application that solved many user interface issues in the current product.  Additionally, I was responsible for technical discussion with video sharing sites including YouTube and AOL Uncut Video.

Animated Speech Corporation, CA  “Timo Vocabulary and Timo Stories” 

Developed instructional titles for children with hearing, speech, and learning disabilities. Curriculum utilized a 3D animated tutor.  I was the lead programmer, the project manager for all software development, and managed other developers.

Visual Book Productions, FL  "iLumina" (Interactive version of the Bible)

Designed the underlying architecture and was the overall project manager.  I managed other programmers, and built much of the core Bible functionality. The project was designed to allow additional modules to be added to, and interact with, the base set of modules.

Thinking Strings, NJ  "Interactive Explorations"

As the sole developer I built a framework for college level courses shipped on internet connected CD-ROMs. The first product was a full semester course on Archaeology, but the underlying framework can be used to teach any subject. The product includes full student tracking and reporting of status to a professor via a custom Learning Management System. The system also includes an "Interactive Grade Book" on the professor's side that allows the professor to see the performance of all students in all classes.

Microsoft Inc., Mountain View, CA  Prototyping

Developed user interface prototypes of potential new products for the WebTV platform.  Prototypes were in the areas of concurrent music streams and TV browsing.

Broderbund Software/The Learning Company, CA   Consumer Titles

Contributed heavily to an underlying framework and implemented many of the major activities for a very complicated consumer title, "Carmen San Diego Math Detective". I created an engine and built a set of "Dr. Seuss Workbook" CD-ROM's, and worked on a reading title called "Arthur's Reading". Worked on a number of different on-line games for the “Carmen San Diego” web site. I also built a Shockwave demo of the Broderbund title "Think Quick Challenge". Development of several games for the "Arthur's Reading" CD-ROM. Created an on-line game based on the Clue Finders characters. (Companies are now owned by RiverDeep Inc.).

"Darby, The Dalmatian" and "Darby’s Dream Adventure"

Interactive children’s CD-ROM’s. Designed, developed, and shipped entirely by my wife and me. These are original works written and illustrated by my wife. I managed the development of the whole project, designed the overall user interface, and programmed the titles. Negotiated a deal with a publisher, and the titles were sold in Toys’R’Us.

JuniorNet, MA  Kids games

Developed games based on  the Reading Rainbow TV show.

Scientific Learning Corporation, CA  Demos

Developed CD-ROM based demos of a few of their main learning products (Reading Comprehension, Math, etc.)

Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, CA  CD-Roms and Websites

Worked on the development of several CD-ROM’s and websites that provide extra information and testing of material in Wadsworth college textbooks.

Computer Curriculum Corporation, CA "Getting Started with SuccessMaker".

A training CD-ROM that instructs teachers on how to effectively use CCC’s flagship product. (CCC is now part of Pearson Education)

Harvard University  "Managing for Creativity”  & “The New Leader”

First was a full management training course on CD-ROM that teaches managers how to instill creativity in their employees. Second was a CD-ROM training course for training managers.

Previous Full Time Positions

Acuson, CA (now Siemens Medical) Mgr, User Interface/Application Development. 

Responsible for software development on shipping medical ultrasound systems.  Also developed a vision for future systems with a radically different interface.   User testing played a key role in our decision making process.

Apple Computer, CA, Software Development Mgr, Apple Scanner

Managed the development of a new user interface for the Apple Scanner project.

Convergent Technologies, CA, Software Development Mgr, Sr. SW Developer

Technical expertise

Flash/ActionScript, Director/Lingo, PHP, SQL, XML, HTML, Object Oriented Programming (many other older computer languages).

Extensive writing experience – articles published in magazines and on the web. Writing a book on object oriented programming (available online). 

Education

M.S. Computer Science, West Coast University (California)

B.S. Computer Science, Rutgers University (New Jersey)

Other

Mentor to the Mountain View High School FIRST Robotics Team (Team 971)

Self-published an instructional book on teaching the sport of Ultimate Frisbee.