Other Technical Development

Mentoring and support draws on many years of experience in assembling and managing technical development project teams and a view of interactive media that balances the perspectives of the user, the technologist and the investor.

Having run his own software development company for ten years, Neil understands the software development process and the demands that development teams face. Previous consultancy work has included support during the initial phases of development projects - identifying team members needed, establishing working practices and quality control procedures - through to the final stages of implementation.

Although Neil rarely plays a 'hands on' role within a development team these days, he is particularly adept at working with design teams to ensure that problems are evaluated from a range of different perspectives.

Example

Neil has collaborated over the last ten years with Dr. Paul Bangs, both at South Bank University and University College, London, on a variety of development projects.
Open Paul's web-site in new window,

The result is an approach to the production of computer-based language-learning materials based on separation of the content, behaviour and appearance of learning resources that can then be re-used in a variety of ways.

Following the EC-funded MALTED project, the approach has been adopted by the Spanish Ministry of Education and by France Telecom.
Open MALTED web-site in new window.

Technology in support of consultancy

Neil is no stranger to Microsoft Office tools or the use of visual basic to make the tools do what is needed. One example that can be found on this site is the dynamic spreadsheet which allows the user to specify a multi-national consortium and explore the areas of cultural similarity and differences. This includes techniques such as user-interface controls, extensive use of lookup tables and automated sorting.

Other tools Neil has built include a set of MS-Access queries for reporting on resource-loading from an MS-Project workplan and a browsing inteface for government classification schema.

For information about those, or mission-critical solutions like techniques for doing random draws for sailing club or golf club events - drop Neil an email!

Other development clients include: Dept. of Trade and Industry, Hong Kong Telecom, Hull University and Royal Insurance.

See also: Usability - why Putting People Before Computers? ¦ Cultures - Why people from some countries get on better with us than others