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BOB AKKA |
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OBJECTIVE
Over 15 years software and related technical experience covering a variety of application areas, emphasizing graphics, user interface, optical science; also including financial transaction processing, audio and video, Internet, and more. Very strong logical and analytical abilities. Experienced researcher, inventor, patent author, patent analyst. Excellent verbal communication and technical reading and writing skills, valued as a team player in collaborative efforts.
Designed and built two different virtual prototyping software tools based on optical models that I devised. One of these used ray tracing to evaluate existing panoramagram screen designs and to improve next-generation designs. The other simulated reflection properties of complex surfaces having both surface scattering and an irregular macro-texture. Both included a configurable visualization module of my own design. One of my key innovations was that visual quality attributes of final designs that were previously subjective could be specified as a small set of measurable quantities, which we could then optimize for in the optical model. Results: Both sped up screen hardware development, and improved optical quality. Researched and developed the software for a patented graphics interdigitation technology. Developed prototype software (C++, Windows API) as a basis for research experiments; diagnosed results; invented solutions to problems. Incrementally improved the technology for better visual quality and processing speed. Collaborated in developing SDK and several plug-ins supporting this technology. Results: The technology that I personally developed is now an essential part of Real D’s Synthagram product line. Conceptualized, designed, and developed Sudden Depth, a Windows based graphics application with 40000 lines of C++ code. Designed user interface; designed program architecture; developed software; tested; developed help utility, installation software, and documentation. Specified and wrote demo version of program; initiated co-marketing program with peripheral vendor; maintained software. Results: The application worked well, with very high customer satisfaction.
Yahoo,
Contractor May 2008 – present Was a key member of a team developing a server architecture for processing client requests relating to advertising content testing; helped design XSD and XML interfaces, was the main developer of callback server and the system’s monitoring interface components. Helped in all aspects of architectural design, component integration, unit testing, packaging, and system testing; C++ and PHP on Linux. Researched lossless image compression algorithms, products, and other options. Developed an image compression library to provide lossless and lossy image size reduction features; designed and implemented the library’s API, allowing for easy automated image evaluation and compression per customized settings appropriate to site context; C, using IJG JPEG library, Windows and Linux. Wrote testing software to aid evaluation of a vendor’s software library; C++ on Linux. Real
D, Software Project Manager, Software Development Manager, Software Developer, Consultant June 1991 – May 2008 Software Development Projects (mostly C/C++ with Windows API, MFC): Developed optics simulation and
graphics processing software Wrote and modified image processing
utility software Modified a DirectX/ DirectShow video
application to support a newly introduced stereo multiplex technique (which I
helped to develop), and for the decompressed video to demultiplex
(in real time) to be compatible with a new stereoscopic DLP display Designed and implemented company’s
first Software Developer Kit and collaborated on design and coding subsequent
SDK versions Wrote SDK sample apps Helped design and write modeling and
animation software plug-ins Invented image processing techniques
that became the foundation of the company’s Synthagram
product line Created virtual prototyping software
for optical design of Synthagram screens Designed and wrote Solaris-based cinema
server software (interface, video, and synchronized audio) Designed and wrote plug-ins for AutoCAD
and 3D Studio Max Worked with SolidWorks
to modify their plug-in API and wrote SolidWorks
plug-in Collaborated on other CAD plug-in
development Designed implemented and tested
modifications to the computer game Descent 2 Collaborated with software partner
Sense8 to create custom demo software Tested company’s DOS video driver Advised and assisted software partners
with computer games (including Wolfenstein,
Whiplash, Rise of the Triad, Duke Nukem) Engineering
and Research: Researched and tested image processing
algorithms for digital cinema projects Improved and tested Synthagram
(refractive display device) optics Invented researched and tested image
processing techniques Tested graphics algorithms Patents
and Technical Communication: Wrote and edited patents Analyzed external patents Created software documentation and
tutorials (HTML, CHM) Developed technical documentation for
graphics hardware partners Researched, wrote, and presented three
published technical papers Wrote technical manuals Conducted training and programming
assistance for company’s software partners Represented the company at trade shows Content
Creation: Did stereoscopic photography Created stereoscopic animation content
for trade show demos Nexxo Financial, South Consultant December 2005 – July 2006 Developed and tested financial transaction processing software (C#, SHTML, TCP/IP), which included designing and implementing a multithreaded module for matching transaction messages with acknowledgments
ImageSoft, Consultant February 2006 Modified graphics processing software (Windows, C++)
Nortel Networks, Santa Clara Consultant October 2000 Collaborated in developing web services software (C++/ WebObjects) Chasm
Graphics, Independent Software Developer November 1993 – August 1997 Conceptualized designed
developed and tested Sudden Depth stereoscopic image processing application
(C, Windows API), developed help utility and written manual; Customers
included: UCSF Med School, Texas A&M, University of Pennsylvania,
University of Texas, University of Louisiana, Nissho Japan, EDS,
Westinghouse, Lawrence Livermore Lab, Los Alamos NL, Sandia Labs, Sarnoff
Labs, SAIC, Office of Naval Intelligence, US Dept. of Energy, Eastman Kodak,
Canon, Philips, Sony Pictures, SF Museum of Modern Art Rendition,
Consultant October 1996 – November 1996 Modified device driver software within Descent 2 computer game code to add support for the company’s chipset Brooktree, Austin Consultant April 1996 Conducted a technical training session about graphics driver interface requirements ViewSonic, Walnut Consultant September 1994 – October 1994 Developed promotional stereoscopic animation content Three
Dimensional Imagination, Consultant January 1994 – March 1994 Provided technical training and assisted with stereoscopic animation for Iridium satellite system promotional video IBM
Research, Salaried Intern Summers 1989, 1990 Designed and implemented graphics test software (C, X11), Represented company at SIGGraph trade show, Developed interface module and part of rendering module for 3D visualization utility (C, UNIX, X11, Motif)
Member of ACM,
Mensa
US Citizen References available on request |
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Updated 3/09