Robert Scheffler's development history

Software

• Finished concept prototype for a zooming (2.5D) desktop interface using a 3D engine similiar to WPF. Applied many diverse organization and visualization methods not seen before such as maintaining spatial awareness when navigating deep hierarchies. Slowly converting to WPF.
• Designed highly unique method for adding gestured based task switching to Windows using common mouse.
• Developed 6DOF input device for maneuvering in 3D world. Device had programmable force feedback detents that were synchronized with graphics. Patent granted to another company. Demonstrated to Microsoft research.
• Developed several unique 3D/4D charting tools for analysis of collected performance data from embedded system. Used to set shipping criteria for a released Microsoft product.
• Created and developed Qtools, a very popular global software tool used at Microsoft for the past 15 years. Simple and clean interface. Unique design included a method for coping tracks and sectors to produce disks that only requiring a URL connection. Demonstrated to VP of IT and was quickly adopted.
• Designed user interface that allowed assignable pull down menus to be ran on top of any running program. Used novel way to add the menu commands on top of the program by mapping screen hot spots to user assignable macros. Basically sub-classing the UI.
• Wrote extremely reliable TCP/IP OCX control for remote instrumentation of computers.

Hardware

• Designed and developed first Windows CE hardware prototype while working in Microsoft research. Platform included LCD screen, touch screen, and button inputs. Built with A/D converters, PLA’s, transistors, and glue logic. 15 units built.
• Developed first wheel mouse and demonstrated for a new product Microsoft was considering.
• Designed medium sized project (20 IC’s) for 8-bit computer that added new user interface capabilities. Contained battery backup, static ram, and ROM with code. Project was highly unusual in that it took 0 bytes of memory from system and was activated by using a sniffing technique that monitored the R/W line.
• Designed keyboard wedge product that had twelve assignable buttons. Buttons were extremely easy to program.