“The future depends on what you do today.”
Gandhi
I am a self-taught creator with a deep passion and understanding of electronics engineering, biomechanics and rehabilitation technologies. For the past 15 years I have been a stay-at-home dad completely dedicated to the care and development of our son Julian who has cerebral palsy.
Driven by necessity and love, an unwavering determination to help Julian achieve his absolute best, led me to teach myself electronics and develop many innovative, practical solutions to support his habilitation.
In my free time I love painting, photography and song writing.
I speak English, French, German, and Italian with fluency and ease. Currently learning Swedish.
This piece was published exactly 30 years ago. Even back then I dared to address the delicate matter of a baby elephant in the room. And now just look, a mere 30 years later, it's all grown-up and ginormous...stomping around in our little china shop...
Work Experience
Stay-at-home dad
2007 - present
My son was born three months prematurely and has cerebral palsy. While attending to his physical needs, I taught myself electronics and created several high-tech habilitation devices to help him. I also custom-built all of his physiotherapy equipment tailored to his specific needs; including swivel boards, parallel bars, steps, wedges, insoles and more.
Programming & Tools
• Microcontrollers:
Programming:
Sensors:
• 3D development
• 3D CAD:
• Circuit design:
• Soldering:
Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Teensy, ATTiny, ATMega328P, Pyboard
C++, C#, Python, MicroPython
Motion, Pressure, Flex, IMU, EMG
Unity engine
Fusion 360 and Autodesk 123D
Autodesk Eagle
SMD and THT
Fabrication & Materials
Silicone / Mouldmaking
Fibreglass
Plaster casting / Latex
Expanding and sheet foam
Woodworking
Textiles & sewing
Resins (epoxy, polyester, polyurethane)
Acrylic
Global Paintbox (Founder) New York, NY
January 2000 - 2009
• Managed a team of three staff members
• Technical support and consulting (Clients with 1 - 35 employees)
• Designed, developed, and maintained database applications and systems.
• Managed technical requirements, budgets, and multi-platform integration.
• Maintained networks, resolved connectivity issues, and network backups.
• Conducted user meetings, trained staff, and created technical documentation.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
October 1990 - November 1999
• Systems analysis, design and development
• Determined and budgeted department’s technical requirements
• Network and systems maintenance
• Conducted departmental user group meetings
• Multi-platform system integration
Oct 1995 - Nov 1999
June 93 - Oct 1995
Systems Specialist (Systems Analyst II)
Programmer Analyst I
Oct 1990 - June 93
Junior Programmer
• Developed and maintained production applications
• Resolved Mac/PC/Mainframe connectivity and data-transfer issues
• Provided technical support for users
• Supervised temporary employees
• Supported department’s report programming needs
• Provided technical support and training for users
• Wrote technical system manuals and user documentation
Writing
• IBM - Wrote the technical reviewer’s guide for the IBM z900
• Boston Computer Society - Product Review Editor for the BCS Journal (1994 - 1996)
• COMPUTERWORLD - ’We’re losing our creative minds' Viewpoint article
• Virtual Reality Special Report - Reviews Editor (A Miller Freeman Publication) (1994 - 1998)
• Faulkner Information Services - Freelance technical writer & editing (1994 - 1998)
Consulting
C.P. Baker and Company, Boston, MA (1993-1997)
Designed and developed a stock market program that performed statistical analysis on historical & real-time data.
• System Architect • DBase • CodeWarrior C
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (1994)
Analysed, designed and developed a database application to track the museum’s Film Department revenue, attendance and viewers interests. • MS FoxPro
New England Medical Center, Cardiology Department (1996)
Designed a system to follow patients’ cardiology history and track the patient from station to station within the cardiology department during visits. • System Architect
Teaching
• Provide private tutoring in French at all levels • Certified TEFL instructor (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) • Taught users on all technical topics for the department of Research Development and Systems at MIT • Tutored a C programming course at MIT to a visually impaired employee • Taught computer skills at St Francis House, a homeless shelter in Boston
Personal
• French national
• Have lived in nine different countries (New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, England, Holland, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland and the USA)
Hobbies : • Painting • Songwriting • Electronics • Photography • Classical guitar & chromatic harmonica