Kathryn Aaker

I am a San Francisco based Rich Internet Application (RIA) developer and Flash programmer who has proven her skills and flexibility on projects for large clients and small consulting companies.

Focusing on the amazing potential Flash and RIA technology offers for the future of web applications, I can bring to any team a wealth of experience, as well as a passion for creative ideas, problem solving, teamwork, learning, and pushing the limits of technology while still developing for a positive user experience.

: EXPERIENCE :

Laszlo Studios / Renaissance Learning
Lead Laszlo Programmer
Read Now Power Up Portal
Using the OpenLaszlo platform and the LZX language, I helped develop a fun Rich Internet Portal to tie together the many elements of a well-respected educational company's at-risk middle-school reader program. Students use the application to see their current program books, track their progress, launch digital books, choose and launch quizzes and tests, and customize their personal virtual space.

Interfaced with a Google Appliance Server via a REST API
Implemented paged results to handle the 1000+ of returned results
Utilized both server and client-side filtering of large result sets

San Mateo, California | Summer 2005 - Winter 2005

Laszlo Studios / Renaissance Learning
Lead Laszlo Programmer
Summer Reading Program
Working with Laszlo's Studios division, I developed a child-oriented application for kids enrolled in Renaissance Learning's Summer Reading program to find new books, maintain a reading list, and track their progress. Many elements were able to transfer to their subsequent projects, saving significant time and cost.
San Mateo, California | Spring 2005 - Summer 2005

Laszlo Systems
Laszlo Programmer
Laszlo Mail
I joined the Laszlo team to work on the client side of Laszlo Mail, a Rich Web Mail application, developed in LZX and the OpenLaszlo platform. I worked on the "Contact List" and other components.
San Mateo, California | Fall 2004 - Spring 2005

Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment / Screenblast
Lead Flash Engineer
Using Flash MX and Flash Remoting for Java, I designed and implemented the architecture for a flexible and robust media-sharing application for use in Sony Screenblast (2.0) and throughout Sony as a media publishing platform.

Utilized Object-Oriented principles of software design to maximize reusability and development resources
Created custom UI and functional components for internal and external reuse
Designed a flexible server communication structure with asynchronous event handling and local data caching

Los Angeles, California | Fall 2002 - Summer 2003

Fluid
Flash Programmer
Imaging Framework and Application
FunStamps.com / Moviso Mobile Image Composer
With ActionScript 2.0, I created a flexible Imaging Framework for use in an application to allow users to send custom images to mobile phones. The end result was an easy to use, PaintShop-like tool that output true SVG for transformation on the server to any desired format. Used design patterns to simplify architecture of SVG output generation and undo/redo functionality.
San Francisco, California | Fall/Winter 2003

Rolling Orange / Jim Erickson
PHP Programmer
JimErickson.com
Using PHP, MYSQL, and AMFPHP (an open-source Flash Remoting alternative) I built the server-side to a high-profile stock photography site, including an advanced custom search tool.
San Francisco, California | Fall 2003

Carbon Five / Charles Schwab
Flash Programmer
Marketing Calendar
Worked with enterprise-solution company Carbon Five to develop an XML-based Marketing Calendar application for Charles Schwab's marketing groups. Created Flash MX-style UI components in Flash 5, and later updated for Flash MX.
Contact for demo login information.
San Francisco, California | Spring 2002

Surfline
Flash Programmer
Dynamic navigation
I helped Surfline streamline their out-of-control DHTML navigation by moving it to an XML-based Flash system that was easy to update, saved on bandwidth costs, and exceeded usability requirements.
San Francisco, California | Summer, 2003

Digeo (MOXI)
Flash Programmer
MOXI Media Center
Developed Flash interface for MOXI's interactive TV system.
Programmed MP3 player/jukebox, DVD menus, and designed a flexible, reusable architecture for management of interface elements.
Palo Alto, California | Winter 2000

Sawyer Media / Cisco
Flash Programmer
Programmed data-driven internal broadband portal with Flash 5 and XML, using custom UI components. Built a lightweight PHP/XML content management tool for the portal's backend system.
San Francisco, California | Winter 2001 - Spring 2002

Idea Integration / SFMOMA
Flash Programmer
Making Sense of Modern Art
The Anderson Collection
Provided Flash programming and consulting for Idea and the SFMOMA on innovative project which allows the museum to publish new web or offline exhibition presentations with external media and configuration. Developed flexible interactive templates. Also conducted hands-on training sessions on ActionScript programming.
San Francisco, California | Fall 2000

Allen Interactions
Flash Programmer
Built interactive and multi-use training application for cutting-edge computer based training company and the State of California.
San Francisco, California | Summer / Fall 2001

Spark Learning
Flash Programmer
Developed educational games in Flash for this London-based e-learning company. Also programmed a points/money system for the game's virtual world.
London, UK | Spring 2001

Perimetre-Flux / SFMOMA
Flash Programmer
010101: Art in Technological Times
Consulted on ASP/XML driven visually-threaded message board for this multi award-winning website, which was part of the museum's revolutionary Art in Technological Times exhibition. Also conducted hands-on training sessions on Flash development and workflow.
San Francisco, California | Winter 2000

Orange Design
Flash Programmer
Programmed Orange Design website. Presented with Fred Sharples, president, at Flash Forward conference, showcasing the company's site and speaking about modular object-oriented programming principles in flash 4.
San Francisco, California | Summer / Fall 2000

Academy of Art College
Flash Instructor
Taught Flash Actionscript classes for masters degree students. Developed curriculum and assignments. Worked with individual students through the Directed Study program.
San Francisco, California< | Spring 2002 - Spring 2004

Other clients include: Macromedia, em:seven (UK), Qaswa Communications, Io Research, Metaliq, Sisu Media

: EXPERIENCE :

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