From January to September of 2011 I was the sole front end developer for a new global financial application built from scratch for a Hong Kong based company called Investlab. Created as a cost effective solution for bankers and their clients to access global markets, it was architectured in a very modular way, with nearly all areas as self contained widgets that could exist in any configuration; working alone or inter messaging other widgets.

The backend architecture used JMS brokers, ActiveMQ and STOMP for messaging, keeping everything in cache rather than as database objects. Passing data through a socket connection to the front end, Flex utilized a number of very interesting frameworks to allow a very quick and clean modular approach.

PureMVC and it’s subset Fabrication allowed me to create Flash a multi-core (a sort of multi-singleton approach) application using multiple flex modules built from the same value objects, models and interchangeable views while retaining their own controllers. PureMVC’s multicore has a utility called ‘Pipes’ (think plumbing) that allows the modules to communicate, but Fabrication really came in handy as it did all the heavy lifting of ‘fabricating’ the piping structure; allowing one to send messages from one module to another with ease. For example if moduleA wants to send a message to all modules within the main application it would do so as “*” and all modules could receive that message if interested; if moduleA wanted to communicate with moduleB it could do so as a named module (i.e. “/modules/moduleB”). Or multiple instances of the same module could receive a message sent to ‘/infoModules/*’ etc.

Programming as modular widgets allowed us to revisit exactly how the user would interact with the system easily, and within this short time frame there were a number of developmental changes and tests. Taking a bit of the unused Verizon interface I tried to sketch out some ideas on how the application could function, this one based on initial ideas given to me.

I was also asked to mock out a version the way I thought would be best, in this case I thought a tablet / iPad application would work really well.

The demo at this point is nearly a full featured product, saving data to the cache and taking orders through the rules.
The ability to create users and accounts, attribute them to a firm, give each account a base currency and country. Users can trade on multiple accounts, tracking orders, lots and balances. A user can look up symbols on multiple exchanges under multiple currencies, seeing historical data or recent news articles on the symbol before putting in an order.

Mix Client Demo from G Schafer on Vimeo.

From June to October of 2010 I worked on a really interesting project that a whole new spin on the hiring process: Unrabble. What made this so interesting was the way it automated the hiring process to cut down on the time spent shifting through a ream of resumes. In a way, it’s like the ‘iTunes of job boards’ as it ranks candidates based on skills that the hiring manager decides are most valuable — so if you’re looking for that mysql admin with java skills and cobol experience, that applicant would be pinned to the top of the heap.

It also incorporates google searches and social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn directly in the hiring process as applicants’ experience and information would be right there for the hiring manager to see. Along with a great visual timeline of experiences is what they call ‘Brags’ — little boasts about achievements (i.e. “I singlehandedly brought in 3 million of revenue to my company”) — the candidate can ask colleagues to confirm as true and verified bring a whole level of micro-referencing to the application process. It’s quite brilliant actually.

Even at the onset of the application process from the applicant’s perspective Unrabble asks all those questions that aren’t *directly* part of a job but have a huge bearing on a company culture — if they prefer to work in large vs smaller companies, or what they’re passions lie.

Much like iTunes the hiring manager can continually rate an applicant through questions and interactions, changing needs of the job, sharing an applicant’s information with a colleague or finally through meeting. The best candidate will always bubble up to the top.

The interest in Unrabble has been hot; along with being named one of the hottest startups at DEMO Fall 2011, the Next Web named it as one of their favorite startups. It’s also been featured in the Financial Times, Venture Beat and Portfolio — you can read more about these at Unrabble’s blog.

Here’s Kevin Watson speaking at DEMO Fall 2011:

or take a look at all the examples of use on their YouTube channel.

In rethinking the Hyperion Books website we imagined how the website could best be explored; when you enter a book store or library you can lose hours of time as you naturally progress from subjects of interest, or seeing what other works are by a favorite author. Thinking of what constitutes a book or author and how to take the user from stepping stone to stepping stone across a stream of information until they were ‘miles from home’ was the real fun here.

The original Hyperion Books website was a bit of a mess; it seemed almost everything had to be entered and cross referenced manually on the website in order to match a very involved and archaic database of books and authors; author information would be within a book item in the database as text rather than as a pointer to the author — these pointers would’ve allowed a much more involved experience as book could lead to author could lead to book, etc. The biggest use of time was really getting the data together; once the data was correct, it was fairly simple to implement book posts and author posts being displayed; I then created ‘smart’ carousels that used different logic depending on what type of carousel was set.

When I first took the job reprogramming the website my first thought was to use Drupal as the main framework; but WordPress 3 was in beta and I started to think about custom post types — a book item and author item, and how categories (fiction, drama, comedy) or tags could really enhance the user’s experience. I couldn’t wait for the beta to be released however, and begun using the WordPress 2.9 framework with a plugin called Magic Fields, that would do all the things that custom post types would do — as well as allowing the admin to upload images for headshots, or setting prices or isbn codes. Everything that could be done I needed it to be simple for an admin to …well… administrate. WordPress has matured *quite* a bit in the past few years; and the idea that an open source project like itself could become not only a standard as a blogging platform but a serious CMS is quite astonishing.

On the home page, the admin can choose what books will show up in the large main carousel, or a book can have Featured Item or Best Seller ticked off and show up in either category; nothing new there. However on a book’s page, the carousel would show items as You Might Also Like.. based upon tag information the book being viewed. Reading an author’s bio would show other Books By Author. The nice thing about all of this is that this all these carousels are the same carousel; the admin merely has to pulldown what sort of carousel to set in which area; these different templates (home page, author template, book template) have defined areas for the widgets to function.

Not only does the normal wordpress tags allow the carousels to be fed with pertinent information, it also allows a user to explore products in a new way, such as clicking on a book’s subject and getting a list of other fiction books.

On the New and Forthcoming Titles page, books are listed by publishing date so that books can be added to the database as they’re ready and can be displayed one month in advance. Books can be bought from the website and based upon the ISBN information, bought from a number of different online shops.

Take a look at the embedded video or head on over to the website to see explore www.hyperionbooks.com for yourself.

Another app created for Scribelabs and their customers – the Advertising Research Foundation. A sort of ‘iTunes in the sky’ this Flex app allowed authenticated subscribers to either stream and view ARF content or download to their iPod. Fun little example done in Flex and using custom TileList renderers…

More information can be read at scribelabs.com

Can’t write it as well as described on Scribelabs’ site: “Podium offers browser-based, live multistream broadcasting and videconferencing. Built on Adobe technologies and delivered via Flash Media Servers and CDNs such as Limelight Networks, Podium is used for small geographically dispersed meetings and large-scale event broadcasts.”

A Flash / Flash Media Server / CDN mashup that allows the virtual meetup to be streamed across the web in real time…for more information check out the pages at scribelabs:http://www.scribelabs.com/software/scribelive/

A quick test of the current Flex interface for iDesign communicating to the Creston control system 2 states away..
Using the Flash Crestron SDK, no longer is e-Control tied to a windows only system. Created in such a way that the subcomponents listen for their own joins, the Flex UI loads in the XML that is created by the installer and displays the proper devices listening on the system.

The amp audio channel templates are programmed in such a way that it is repeated for the amount of audio channels the amplifier has; iDesign created the joins in such a way that the channels are iterated 21+ for every channel so that the system can ‘find’ itself.

Added more flexified goodness for the Flex to Crestron interface I’m building for Abercrombie and Fitch that I described here.I have to say, being an old Macromedia Director guy  that migrated to Flash (grumpily as the world did) I find Adobe Flex to be …well… it’s a joy to work with; I’ve actually become very excited about coding again.

For the American Psychiatric Association convention, programmed an interactive case study synchronized in realtime across 28 wireless laptop computers. Projected as part of the case study and working against a timer, the responses were displayed by question, broken down by table and percentages. 

At any point within the live presentation, the moderator can return to any case study and review the participants responses. A survey consisting of a number of open-ended questions can be entered multiple times by individuals within each group of each laptop. Communicating through a custom socket server, all data is stored in a database and able to be retrieved at any time, as well as printed out for moderator review.

Continuing Medical Education Virtual Activities
In one six month period, managed and oversaw the design, development and content of over 18 different continuing medical education cdroms complete with multiple presententations consisting of either video or audio, powerpoint slides, faculty references, documentation,  post-tests, evaluation and personal information input. Driven by external xml configuration files, each cdrom crossplatform desktop application was easily switched to an online version.  All user interaction, navigation and testing information were saved to a centralized database via webservices. Usage reports were easily furnished to clients from this information. All programmed in AS2 utilizing a library that was repurposed over time and iterations.

Programmed a number of networked interactive kiosks within the museum that allowed patrons to view museum history and information in five different languages, installation information, video clips, calendars of upcoming events, as well as a wayfinding system to the various displays. Each kiosk was ‘aware’ of it’s position within the museum and would use itself as a starting point for the museum maps. A separate Kiosk Builder application was created to allow museum personnel to update the kiosk information, images, and dated material. Installations past the current date would not be displayed, and future information could be created in advance. Each kiosk pulls the updated information and xml remotely.

Video of the Builder application to set the xml:

For the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York,  and working with VideoSonic again,  helped with the programming of three presentation rooms which again used multiple projectors, screens, various media source (dvd/cd/cassette/slide) and a multiple camera teleconferencing system all controlled through Crestron.

The Federal Reserve of New York
Using a number of Crestron control systems, programmed a number of training rooms, a large dinging hall, and a conference room with controlled devices (ie dvd, vcr, projectors, screens, lighting, wireless microphones, Gentner teleconferencing system). Designed the user interfaces for each.

High-end Audio environments for boutique hotel in Times Square. Seven stereo audio zones including four Lounges and a dance floor. Custom programmed DSP processing and control using Biamp Audiaflex and Crestron. Underwater and glass panel speakers create unique ambiance for  Sauna, Pool and Shower Room. Audio Request Digital Music Server and DJ system. Low-profile subwoofers installed in the millwork.

Boasting multiple AudioRequests – that is a networked mp3 player and broadcaster – the Club can matrix any audio to any floor or zone, so pristine audio can be heard and controlled from any of the work out rooms, private saunas or dining room.

As it’s described in this writeup:

Besides the standard, expected amenities (art by Basquiat and De Kooning, staircases carved from 1400 square feet of Bianco Venatino slab marble, personal concierge service*), the Core Club also sports:

A 56-seat theater, where Core’s Hollywood bigshots prescreen their own movies, saving members the price of a ticket — $10.25 they can use to tip the club’s expert staff. Lordly dining designed by Tom Colicchio (Craft, Gramercy Tavern). A pristine gym, perfect for working off the jiggling gut designed by Tom Colicchio (Craft, Gramercy Tavern).

Created for a presentation to Bumble and bumble about installing a number of kiosks in their salons. The plan was to create a sort of interactive channel to peruse new hairstyles, or within the chair, pick out and purchase outfits to fit the client’s new look.

It was a pretty quick buildup within Cinema4d – an hour or two – and then using Keynote for the presentation.

The demo was nearly fully functional, controlled completely from a Media Center PC remote. Videos could be controlled, viewed at various sizes. Multiple ‘feeds’ could be viewed, and information regarding each feed, or each video could be seen, playlists created. Advertisements and branding were inserted into playlists.

Bumble and bumble University is a multifunctional facility using technology to teach advanced haircutting techniques to students that come into NYC from all over the country.

Programmed for VideoSonic, this combination of a Macromedia Director front-end talking to a Crestron Control System back-end allows instructors to control all elements within the classrooms or auditorium: lights can be dimmed, projectors controlled, videos played and rerouted, cameras controlled, audio routed and projector screens extended.  All media elements can be routed and controlled from classroom to classrom or to any of the salons on the upper floors, or from the 103 seat auditorium. Each room has two cameras which can be routed just as any video source, or recorded to dvd media, allowing the school in essence, to be a television studio.

Control system software on Apple iBooks allow instructors to create and control their own shows complete with hardware control and interface switching so that music fades out, lights dim, screens roll out, projectors are started and cameras focused  – all with the touch of a ‘scene begin’ button.

The 3rd floor is their university, containing 4 intimate classrooms and a 103 seat auditorium.  The supporting content is distributed to the classrooms using networked digital video servers, while the classes themselves are controlled by a facillitator using WiFi tablet computers.

The 4th and 5th floors are their corporate offices, the 6th floor is a teaching salon, and the 7th & 8th house the salons open to the public, retail shops, and a restaurant.

In addition to the instructional content utilized for the classes, 12 digital video content channels are generated  – information about products, events and industry news – are displayed throughout the facility on BumbleTV.

VideoSonic installed a VIDS12-DVD Server as the both the Display and Control engines for this dynamic exhibition that highlights milestone events in Lightolierâ??s 100 year corporate history.

Video shows are synchronized on 12 widescreen LCD monitors; the lighting in the showcases illuminate to show the actual objects featured in the video. Using LED lighting in the showcases, the display gently cycles through color changes when not running the shows.

Helped implement a 7-video and multitrack audio experience in the Intrepid Naval Museum. Utilizing a smpte track as a lock for the audio and video, midi controlled the raising and lowering of the screens, dimming of the lights and expulsion of fog machines to allow visitors to best experience a kamikaze attach upon the vessel in World War II. The audio was mixed in the space and allows for directional sound to the extreme.

Created for two large 42″ plasmas that also showcased a directional audio setup. I created the videos from a number of images we had of our installations — think I made about 7 of them — and really just randomized through them as attracts to our booth.

As part of the reopening of the Statue of Liberty in 2004, VideoSonic installed a new fire alarm/safety system that would display exit information when the alarms would trigger.

As part of our installation we also created some of the points of interest – at the top of the pedestal we created the supporting videos as support to the Rangers’ tour. Seen by over 6 million visitors a year — story-boarded, designed and edited a 45 minute documentary on the history and technology of the Statue. This presentation is played while a Parks Commissions employee supplies the narrative, lighting the internal structure of the Statue at the appropriate times.

Designed and programmed a number of cdroms aimed for sales and marketing divisions of each company to help utilize and sell their brand. Combining disparate media, videos, and document libraries in such a way so as to be explored, exported, and even create and save simple powerpoint-like presentations to solicit customers using parent company approved materials.

An crossplatform cdrom made for Lehigh County Community College as an interactive searchable brochure and course information kit. Featuring in depth information about the school, a tuition calculator, videos from students and an offline full database of courses.

Created software to help in the automation of documents adhering to the Verizon brand. The application consisted of a database of corporate approved assets tagged by usage-type, and allowed the user to export the chosen elements in a variety of formats, ready for publication. Included in the application were a number of videos demonstrating the correct usage of the Verizon brand.

Programmed a cross platform application for Chase Manhattan Bank clients utilizing a searchable database of bank depositories, allowing one to view search results based on various ratings criteria.