Project: Mobile Handset Field Test Logging System & Additional Modules.

On leaving Sharp (below), I began to train myself in technologies that I had a keen interest in, but would have been unable to pursue in my role as Project Manager. In 2004 I began a large project for Sharp, developing an intranet system using ColdFusion, MS-SQL, DHTML, Flash (with ActionScript), Visual C++, and VB .NET. The system’s main purpose was to allow field test engineers to store their test results for later review and QA analysis etc. ColdFusion and JavaScript were used to provide dynamic WEB page data entry and control, with additional code in FLASH ActionScript used to generate graphical data passed through Flash remoting services from ColdFusion and MS-SQL server. Additionally other modules in the system provided a group forum for adding notices to team members, a WEB based graphical holiday and attendance record system and a WEB front-end for management of temporary staff’s attendance and training logs.
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Project: e-commerce WEB site for Cycle Shop Chain – Edge Cycleworks (www.edgecycleworks.com).

In 2006 I began development of the e-commerce WEB site for Edge Cycleworks, a chain of sports cycle shops located in the North West. The client already had an automated till and stock system, which I was required to integrate into using SOAP web services. The site provided all of the typical e-commerce functions for the shopper, including product search and selection, shopping basket management, secure credit card processing, and e-mail notification of order processing. This part of the site was developed using PHP and MS-SQL. Additionally I provided the client with a comprehensive admin module written in ColdFusion, providing order management, product update management and order value analysis. Within 3 months of deployment, the site was generating increased sales of 270% over the same period in 2005.
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Project: Mobile Handset Field Test Generation & Monitoring Tool.

Another project for Sharp (above), was to develop a PC Windows MFC application that could provide testing for handsets during the field testing process. The software was required to be very configurable by the test engineers, due to the complex nature of the log data captured in real-time from a handset in the field. The application provided the engineer with a ‘C’ programming language interpreter, with additional custom features for processing handset log events etc. In addition, the tests could be debugged with the built-in debugger and log analysis windows.
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Project: Anfield Stadium Project

After seeing some samples of my work with integrating Cinema4D and Vue d’Espirit, a Manchester based landscape architects ‘Virtual PlanIT’ employed me to create a 3D model of the new Anfield stadium and its surrounding area. With Vue d’Espirit it is possible to create much more realistic and ‘lush’ landscapes than is usual in architectural CAD systems. Virtual PlanIT provided Cinema4D models of the stadium, originally created by the US based architects. I took that data and created a realistic representation of the surrounding parkland and the wider Liverpool area.
Several animations were created to be included in a final presentation to clients. One animation included a ‘fly-thru’ from above the clouds, descending several cloud layers and passing over the parklands to the stadium.

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I have developed several scripts using Adobe Extend Script for Adobe Illustrator to allow formatting and conversion of text objects that were corrupted during data processing. Scripts also generate text output to allow easy processing through translation filters. The scripts have been used for clients such as Aston Martin and Case New Holland.

In a similar vein, I developed an import/export extension to the FLASH development environment, which processed all text objects within the source files to allow for external translation of text and subsequent re-import. The scripts were used extensively in a Honda Cars Europe project to translate a complex Flash presentation into 28 languages. Using the scripts saved the client several thousand pounds and a lot of time was saved by avoiding manual editing of the files.

In mid 2002 I was given the opportunity to take a management position at Sharp Telecommunications, based in Bracknell, Berkshire. Sharp had almost completed their first GSM/GPRS handset (GX-10) for Vodafone, which was to be Vodafone’s flagship ‘Vodafone Live’ product. My original job specification was Software Manager MMI, meaning that I would be managing a team of software engineers designing and developing the Man Machine Interface for Sharp handsets. In addition I was given the task of becoming Sharp UK’s MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) specialist, providing technical assistance between the Japanese development 3rd party and the UK integration team.
However, within one month of taking up this role, I was assigned to the position of Project Manager for the GX-20 handset where my main responsibilities were:

• Project management of the UK based team developing the GX-20 handset. Although not directly responsible for software development, I was responsible for coordinating the work of the software managers of the respective development teams within the UK.

• Coordination and liaison between the customer (Vodafone UK, Germany, Italy and others) and Sharp’s Japanese divisions, including product planning departments. This part of my job involved frequent meetings throughout Europe and in Japan.

• Overall project planning, taking plans from many departments and producing a master plan for internal and customer use. These plans included milestones and deliverables that needed to be synchronised to Vodafone’s own complex product release schedule.

• I was the sole point of contact between Sharp and Vodafone with respect to technical issues. It was my responsibility to make sure the customer’s queries and requests were dealt with accurately and in a timely manner.

• During the test and sign-off phase of development I was responsible for collating internally and externally generated fault reports into a database. I would then chair meetings with the relevant departments and the customer to track progress in resolving issues.

As Software Manager, it was my responsibility to plan, control and contribute to the design, specification and implementation of new software on several projects. My main responsibilities covered the following:

• Managing and contributing to the development of the software, from concept, design, specification and project planning, through to implementation, test and delivery (on time and within budget).

• Working with other Sharp departments in the UK and Japan, such as R&D, Planning, Sales, Marketing and Engineering to plan product development and delivery to market.
• Controlling an annual budget in excess of £300,000 for software development.
• Managing the testing of the software using additional temporary staff.
• Recruitment and replacement of Software Engineers as required.
• My role required regular business trips to Japan and other countries to undertake planning, support and training as necessary.

I was employed originally to recruit and manage a team of Software Engineers in the UK to continue development of the ‘Font Writer’ Word Processor. The Font Writer product was targeted at the consumer electronics market place. The device consisted of a keyboard, LCD, printer and floppy disk drive, built into a unit no larger than a typical typewriter. All hardware was controlled by a single Mitsubishi M3770 CPU, running a proprietary O/S developed in Japan, based on micro-Itron.

After an initial training period of 3 months in Japan, the team took over the software, designing and developing new software applications for launch in 1996. The new applications included an easy-to-use ‘Spreadsheet Charting’ application allowing a user to create effective charts from their spreadsheet data. The other application, the ‘Multilingual Document Generator’, allowed a user to customise letters from templates in their native language and once completed to automatically translate them into another language such as French, German, Italian or Spanish. The application won awards for its design in a national ‘Linguistics Technology’ award. In 1997 the development team added a ‘Clip Art’ application to the Font Writer. The application was the first Word processor of its type in the EU market to provided DTP style manipulation of text and images.

In 1998 the development of the Font Writer finished and my department became part of the Business Communications Division. The team began the development of an add-on device for one of Sharp’s high-end facsimile machines. The add-on board provided ‘Internet Fax’ capability via an Ethernet LAN. The hardware was based on a 3rd party ASIC which included an ARM7 CPU core, plus Ethernet MAC. The software team developed an event driven, multitasking O/S, specifically engineered for efficient data communications between the legacy fax machine and the LAN mail server. We also developed the protocol stack to implement Internet Fax communications. The stack comprised of TCP/IP, UDP, SMTP, POP3 and a MIME codec.

In May 2000, the team transferred to the Personal Communications Division. The division was responsible for the development of mobile CDMA phones and other wireless communication products for the US market. My department’s role was to provide PC applications to interface with the mobile handset via RS232/USB. Applications provided were: address book, melody/music manager and desktop wallpaper image management. All applications were written in C++, using MFC/ActiveX.

The company specialised in the design of 'Pen' based Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's). Eden Group was the developer of the Amstrad PDA600 pen computer.

Originally employed as part of a team of four software engineers to produce the firmware/software for the Amstrad Pen Pad, I was involved in all aspects of software design and coding. The hardware was based on a Z80 processor, the Zilog Z180, programmed in 'C' and assembler. I wrote the two main applications, the Diary and Address book, as well as many of the low-level support functions used by other applications, such as data storage and memory management functions. Additionally I took on the role of 'System Integrator' as the project drew to a close. The role involved supporting other engineers in fixing bugs and interfacing the functional blocks of the software. From concept to production-ready prototypes, the project took only six months. To complete the project on time I had to work to extremely tight weekly deadlines. In addition to the Pen Pad software, I wrote the DOS based software to enable a Pen Pad user to transfer data between the Pen Pad and a PC, using a 'virtual' Pen Pad on the PC. The software was written in 'C' and assembler.

In July 1993 I was promoted to Software Manager and Project Leader, managing eight software engineers. I was the Project Leader for one of Eden's two main projects. The projects involved development of a reference design for Hitachi Electronics Corporation. The customer wished to demonstrate their new RISC (SH2 series) processors running in a PDA/Pen environment. As a project leader I was responsible for all aspects of the project including:

* Planning the project and producing project plans using Microsoft Project software.
* Controlling the hardware and industrial design processes. This involved third party companies providing the design of PCB's and the industrial design of the plastics/mouldings.
* Orchestrating all liaisons with the customer, third parties and Eden Group.
* Design and specification of the firmware/software, in liaison with the product designer and the team of up to twelve senior software engineers.
* I was responsible for the recruitment of all new software engineers.