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More than ten years software and three years mechanical engineering experience. Knowledge of and experience in various fields ranging from cognitive psychology to musical theater. Experience leading and participating in creative teams. Facility in bridging cultures.

University of California, Berkeley, California.

Ph.D. Computer Science, May 2002.

Minors in cognitive science and computer systems.

Thesis: Controlling Expressive Avatar Gesture.

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1987.

Thesis

Developed novel interaction technique for controlling expressive avatar gestures using pen gesture input. Presented project proposal and won approval. Developed architecture for plug-in to attach software behaviors to avatars in VRML based virtual worlds. Prototyped system in Java and VRML.

Collaborative Environments

Analyzed problem of nonverbal communication in virtual worlds. Designed and built user controls for simple avatars. Designed experiment to determine effect of avatar kinematic design on expressiveness given two nonverbal communication tasks. Carried out experiments with twelve users. Analyzed results and discovered potential design improvements.

Behavioral Animation

Built airship flight simulator extension to dynamics simulator. Designed architecture for run-time loaded object behaviors. Showcased work at advanced research exhibition.

Computer Vision

Designed and implemented computer vision scheme for classifying hand postures.

Software Engineering

ICEM CFD Engineering, Berkeley, California

Consultant - Software Engineering: 1997-present

Designed and implemented features for user interface for FEA mesh generation software. Implemented efficient collision detection algorithm to improve performance of interactive manipulation of three dimensional parts geometry. Ported entire suite of products from UNIX to WinNT platform.

Xerox Corporation, Expert Systems Group, Henrietta, New York

Consultant: Sep - Dec 1991

Advised three project leaders in porting real-time diagnostic system from LISP to C++. Taught process for developing C++ code.

Quantum Consulting, Software Development, Berkeley, California

Computer Programmer:1990-1991

Implemented user interfaces for energy usage forecasting software.

Research

Xerox PARC, System Sciences Lab, Palo Alto, California

Research Intern: May - Aug 1991

Designed features for intelligent augmentation of electronic handheld service manuals for customer service technicians. Observed technicians at customer sites.

Xerox PARC, Rochester, New York & Palo Alto, California

Research-Engineering Liaison: 1991-1992

Investigated opportunities for scientists at research division to collaborate with engineers in manufacturing unit. Collected stories from fourteen product engineers. Uncovered thirty potential research projects. Submitted recommendations to research scientists.

Mechanical Engineering

Xerox Corporation, Mechanical Technology Development, Rochester, New York

Project Engineer: 1987-1990

Investigated advanced copier finisher technology for neatly stacking paper. Optimized performance using Quality (Taguchi) experimental design techniques. Lead brainstorming and concept refinement team—resulted in five U.S. patents. Taught brainstorming and concept synthesis techniques to other engineers. Lead team in benchmarking competitive technologies. Through fixing copiers at customer sites, learned sympathy for customer service technicians and sales personnel.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Marine Division, Sunnyvale, California

Safety Engineering Assistant: Jun - Aug 1986

Assisted human factors engineer in program implementation, hardware design critique and mechanical system analysis. Interviewed fourteen design engineers to assess subsystem failure modes in capsule launching system.

Patents

U.S. Patent 5,120,047. June 9, 1992. Integral Sheet Stacking Buckle Suppressor and Registration Edge.

U.S. Patent 5,120,046. June 9, 1992. Automatically Spaced Sheet Stacking Baffle.

U.S. Patent 5,127,643. July 7, 1992. Automatic Copy Sheet Selection Device.

Volunteer Work

Assisted blind computer science graduate student with reading and library tasks; built houses with Habitat for Humanity; week long service in Appalachia among rural poor.

Favorite Roles

Jenny in Company; Maria in Twelfth Night; Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady.

Interests

Figure drawing, singing, acting, literature, design, martial arts.

This page last modified 18 December, 2002