John Akers: Resume

JOHN W. AKERS

231 12th St., Apt. 10
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 881-8526
Georgia Institute of Technology
School of Psychology
Atlanta, GA 30032-0170
(404) 894-7556

OBJECTIVE A job doing software design/user interface design, prototyping, and evaluation.

INTERNET jaws@cc.gatech.edu
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/student/john.akers/

EDUCATION Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
M.S. Engineering Psychology, defended June, 1998. Cumulative GPA: 3.7/4.0
Rice University, Houston, TX.
B.A. in Behavioral Science and Managerial Studies, 1992.

WORK
EXPERIENCE Human Factors Intern, NCR Corporation, Human Factors Engineering Dept. Assisted in redesigning functional flow of a graphical user interface (GUI) for a supermarket self-checkout terminal. Helped redesign graphics used in GUI with Photoshop. Redesigned high fidelity Visual Basic prototype of GUI for presentation and acceptance by external corporate client. Assisted in updating GUI system specifications document (SSD). Created user interface (UI) storyboards document detailing different scenarios of use and relating them to SSD. April, 1998-present.

Research Assistant, Graphics, Visualization and Usability Center, Georgia Tech. Assisted professors Richard Catrambone, Mark Guzdial, Ashwin Ram, and John Stasko in conducting research on cognitive multimedia. Redesigned HyperCard program for teaching college chemistry students how to solve molecular shape problems using JavaScript and HTML. Conducted two experiments at Emory University using program to assess the influence of media type and task orientation on learning. Helped develop a multimedia HyperCard database program to teach users how to solve procedurally-based home repair problems. September, 1996-May, 1997. September, 1997-March, 1998.

Human-Computer Interaction Intern, Eastman Kodak Company, Human Factors Dept. Designed several prototypes of software for downloading, processing, distributing and storing digital images using Visual Basic and Photoshop. First author of report summarizing results of heuristic evaluation and pugh session on seven digital camera systems. Designed and ran usability evaluation of Kodak professional film packaging. Participated in heuristic evaluation of Kodak web site. Assisted in design sessions of digital printer with TV GUI. June-August, 1997.

Human Factors Intern, BellSouth Telecommunications, Science & Technology Dept. Maintained Visual Basic GUI prototype of large service management system (SMS) software program. First author on SSD for character-based user interface for SMS. Second author on SSD for GUI SMS. Developed initial object-oriented model for library of reusable GUI components for SMS. Assisted in initial design of intranet web site and document style guide for Science & Technology department. Built Java animation applet for use on site home page. May 1995-September 1996.

RELEVANT COURSEWORK Experimental Design and Statistical Methods (one year sequence), Engineering Psychology Methods, Human-Computer Interaction, Controls and Displays, Educational Software, Cognitive Engineering, Decision Making, Sensation & Perception, Individual Differences.

INTERESTS Software design/user interface design, prototyping, web site design, educational technology, multimedia, sensation and perception, virtual reality, statistics.

AWARDS, HONORS NCR Human Factors Engineering Dept. Player of the Month, May, 1998.
Student representative for Georgia Tech School of Psychology at the 1996 Human-Computer Interaction Consortium Workshop, Fraser, CO.

COMPUTER SKILLS Visual Basic, JavaScript, HTML, HyperTalk, Java, Lingo, Pascal, Unix, SPSS, SAS, Adobe Photoshop.

REFERENCES Available on request.

INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS Akers, J. W., Romano, N., & Venturino, M. (1997). An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of the "Out of Box Experience" with Several Digital Cameras. Rochester, NY: Eastman Kodak.
Akers, J. W., & Carter, S. E. (1996). SMS Character-Based User Interface. Atlanta, GA: BellSouth Telecommunications.
Carter, S. E., & Akers, J. W. (1996). SMS Graphical User Interface. Atlanta, GA: BellSouth Telecommunications.

Back to my home page.

This page last updated July 6, 1998.

OBJECTIVE	A job doing software design/user interface design, prototyping, and evaluation.
INTERNET	jaws@cc.gatech.edu http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/student/john.akers/
EDUCATION	Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. M.S. Engineering Psychology, defended June, 1998. Cumulative GPA: 3.7/4.0 Rice University, Houston, TX. B.A. in Behavioral Science and Managerial Studies, 1992.
WORK EXPERIENCE	Human Factors Intern, NCR Corporation, Human Factors Engineering Dept. Assisted in redesigning functional flow of a graphical user interface (GUI) for a supermarket self-checkout terminal. Helped redesign graphics used in GUI with Photoshop. Redesigned high fidelity Visual Basic prototype of GUI for presentation and acceptance by external corporate client. Assisted in updating GUI system specifications document (SSD). Created user interface (UI) storyboards document detailing different scenarios of use and relating them to SSD. April, 1998-present.
	Research Assistant, Graphics, Visualization and Usability Center, Georgia Tech. Assisted professors Richard Catrambone, Mark Guzdial, Ashwin Ram, and John Stasko in conducting research on cognitive multimedia. Redesigned HyperCard program for teaching college chemistry students how to solve molecular shape problems using JavaScript and HTML. Conducted two experiments at Emory University using program to assess the influence of media type and task orientation on learning. Helped develop a multimedia HyperCard database program to teach users how to solve procedurally-based home repair problems. September, 1996-May, 1997. September, 1997-March, 1998.
	Human-Computer Interaction Intern, Eastman Kodak Company, Human Factors Dept. Designed several prototypes of software for downloading, processing, distributing and storing digital images using Visual Basic and Photoshop. First author of report summarizing results of heuristic evaluation and pugh session on seven digital camera systems. Designed and ran usability evaluation of Kodak professional film packaging. Participated in heuristic evaluation of Kodak web site. Assisted in design sessions of digital printer with TV GUI. June-August, 1997.
	Human Factors Intern, BellSouth Telecommunications, Science & Technology Dept. Maintained Visual Basic GUI prototype of large service management system (SMS) software program. First author on SSD for character-based user interface for SMS. Second author on SSD for GUI SMS. Developed initial object-oriented model for library of reusable GUI components for SMS. Assisted in initial design of intranet web site and document style guide for Science & Technology department. Built Java animation applet for use on site home page. May 1995-September 1996.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK	Experimental Design and Statistical Methods (one year sequence), Engineering Psychology Methods, Human-Computer Interaction, Controls and Displays, Educational Software, Cognitive Engineering, Decision Making, Sensation & Perception, Individual Differences.
INTERESTS	Software design/user interface design, prototyping, web site design, educational technology, multimedia, sensation and perception, virtual reality, statistics.
AWARDS, HONORS	NCR Human Factors Engineering Dept. Player of the Month, May, 1998. Student representative for Georgia Tech School of Psychology at the 1996 Human-Computer Interaction Consortium Workshop, Fraser, CO.
COMPUTER SKILLS	Visual Basic, JavaScript, HTML, HyperTalk, Java, Lingo, Pascal, Unix, SPSS, SAS, Adobe Photoshop.
REFERENCES	Available on request.
INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS	Akers, J. W., Romano, N., & Venturino, M. (1997). An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of the "Out of Box Experience" with Several Digital Cameras. Rochester, NY: Eastman Kodak. Akers, J. W., & Carter, S. E. (1996). SMS Character-Based User Interface. Atlanta, GA: BellSouth Telecommunications. Carter, S. E., & Akers, J. W. (1996). SMS Graphical User Interface. Atlanta, GA: BellSouth Telecommunications.