Portfolio
A few highlights of DJ's work.
Photography
Film Projects
DJ has a BS degree in Optical Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. He has 25 years of experience designing a variety of opto-electro-mechanical products and systems.
DJ has a passion for creating audio-visual experiences and has been exploring filmmaking, photography, music, and even holography from a very early age. He's proficient with popular tools such as Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and others. He plays various instruments and published his first instrumental album in 2002. Whether it's seen or heard, DJ loves being a part of creating it.
DJ has over 10 years of experience developing apps for both web and mobile, using popular tools such as Flash, Unity, Photoshop, and others - with proficiency in developing interactive applications using AS3, C#, and Javascript. Experience with AR, VR, games, and a variety of other marketing applications.
DJ was born at a very early age, despite what many sceptics think.
The teacher would eventually discover that DJ would only play back what the teacher played and he rarely read the music.
The family's first computer would soon become one of DJ's most favorite "toys", becoming a platform for not only learning how to type, but learning the basics of computer programming.
DJ shares his infatuation of electronics with a presentation on electronic components to his 4th grade class.
DJ's 5th grade class had a competition for solving Rubik's Cube. He won the competitition solving it in just under 2 minutes.
DJ gets into RC aircraft, cars, and eventually RC helicopters. He had already been building plastic models and launching model rockets, but building RC models really took things up a notch.
After falling in love with photography, DJ turns his bathroom into a darkroom and starts taking pictures for the local newspaper. His love for being behind the camera would eventually lead to him having some fun with 8mm film and video.
While DJ was able to obtain a hardship driver's license at the age of 15, it wasn't until he soloed a 1946 Taylorcraft BC12D and a Cessna 152 on his 16th birthday that he really felt independent.
DJ had the opportunity to attend the EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh, WI where attendees learned all the skills involved in building experimental aircraft. This tied in well to DJ's natural interest in building things. Most people buy a product, open the box, and start using it right away - but DJ would often take stuff apart first to see how they work before using them. That 'WARRANTY VOID IF REMOVED' label was simply an invitation to see what's inside. He enjoys building just about anything from wood, plastic, or metal (including welding) and has no fear in the shop.
DJ buys a new book, The Handbook of Holography, and starts making his own holograms with a surplus laser and lenses from Edmund Scientific. This sparks his interest for optical engineering.
DJ is accepted into the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY to pursue a degree in Optical Engineering. He chose this degree since it combines all of the things he loves: light, lenses, mechanics, electronics, and software.
DJ gets a job at the Lab for Laser Energetics to help design one of the most powerful lasers in the world.
DJ took some film production courses during his time at the University of Rochester. Here is one of the projects that he created his junior year. Watch Trackman.
BS in Optical Engineering, Minor in Mechanical Engineering
DJ finds an opportunity to work in the film industry in Dallas, TX and eventually finds his way into the world of special effects - helping to design animatronic characters for Greg Punchatz, one of the masterminds behind the late 90's hit game: Doom.
Barney and Friends was in need of some help in their craft shop, building props, set dressings, and exploring new technologies for costumes. DJ became "right at home", creating a variety of gadgets, props, and putting camera systems into the costumes. He eventually started building hardware to replicate the costumes (harnesses, eyeball rigs, fiberglass structures, etc) - which continued for several years.
Texas Instruments had developed a new technology called, "Digital Light Processing", and was in need of optical design support for new product opportunities. DJ was able to help develop new suppliers around the world and many popular consumer brands to enable a very successful business that still dominates a very diverse range of markets today. DJ currently works for a technology development team within the DLP organization to explore new possibilities.
Worked closely with Samsung (and other major brands) to launch the first projection television displys based on DLP technology to the mass consumer market. Helped to develop new illumination technologies including LEDs and Lasers and also led efforts to develop and optimize new projection screen technologies.
Co-founder of AerialSpins LLC (which eventually became INIT Interactive LLC) to produce unique interactive experiences using panoramic photography for a wide range of applications. Developed a new software platform for a high resolution, interactive panoramic imagery product that integrated 360º visual content with other interactive data (including aerial perspectives, confined spaces, and other environments) for a wide range of clients from universities, cities, performing arts centers, golf courses, and casinos. This was before drones and VR as we know it today.
Helped to create the first freeform interactive display and HMI content for automotive applications with DLP technology - utilizing optical touch sensing, near touch, object detection, and gesture control - See demo here.
DJ used his previous Flash and Actionscript3 experience to develop creative and unique games and experiences for local agencies.
When Flash started to struggle from the lack of browser support, DJ transitioned to Unity. This has allowed DJ to explore new opportunities with both VR and AR for mobile as well as dedicated headset systems.
DJ led a diverse team that spanned across multiple business units to combine multiple automotive technologies from Texas Instruments into a cohesive demonstration - to illustrate how new technologies could work together to change the future of driving. This demo combined new head-up displays using DLP technology, matrix LED headlights, ADAS processing, driver monitoring, and infotainment systems - all powered by TI devices. Here's a video of the demonstration at Electronica 2016 in Germany.
DJ helped to create a concept demonstration of the world's first high resolution, glare-free, dynamic headlight using DLP technology. DJ not only helped with the mechanical implementation of the demo, but created content that was used to demonstrate the possibilities that such a headlight system offers. Here's a promotional video from one of the brands pursuing this new technology.
