TONY J. BROWN
SoftPlex, Inc.
540 Main Street
Winchester, MA 01890
Tel. 781-729-8055
tony@softplex.com
WORK EXPERIENCE:
SoftPlex, Inc.
Winchester, MA 01890
Founder & Human Factors Consultant 1988 - Present
Manage and execute user interface design consulting programs for corporate clients (based just outside of Boston, MA). These programs focus on software system design following a user-centered design process and usability engineering for human-computer interaction (HCI). A majority of the consulting work has focused on web-based and custom graphical user interfaces (Windows - GUI). Services have included: concept development, interactive design prototypes, studies of usability, design research, UX, user interface design reviews, full life-cycle software engineering, and focus group sessions. Applications have been run by the following technologies: Java, .NET, C#, Visual Basic, C++, BREW, Embedded XP, Windows-CE, J2ME, Windows Mobile. Emphasis on information architecture for web design. The goal of this work is to make systems more user-friendly and more efficient. Several key clients and consulting programs are listed below:
Hewlett-Packard: Web-based information architecture & usability testing.
Verizon: Usability engineering for e-commerce & speech recognition.
Blue Cross Blue Shield: Usability engineering for web marketing of health insurance products and interative services.
Ingersol Rand: UI design for wireless embedded device (personal digital assistant) tool.
Boston Scientific: Contextual inquiry and usability testing of medical device.
Staples Corporation: User interface design management for web HTML portal applications.
Mass.Gov: Usability testing on state's web portal.
Fidelity Investments: Usability testing on kiosk software and voice applications.
AS&E: Expert evaluation of user interface design for video security detection equipment.
Citizens Bank: Usability study of web-based online banking site and design recommendations.
TJMaxx.com: Information architecture consulting and usability testing for Java e-commerce.
Stock Loan Online: Visual basic development for securities lending, equity finance, & hedge funds.
Marshalls.com: Usability testing (UX) of customers with retail web application.
Integral Technologies: GUI design for video security software.
Aetna Insurance: Ergonomic issues related to computer monitors
New England Mutual: Usability engineering for insurance system software with Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server.
Williams & Connolly: User interface consulting on airport security (carry-on baggage).
Herbst Lazar Bell: Human Factors on industrial design for Bard, Miles Labs, Abbott, Baxter, etc.
Baxter: Consulting on medical product usability and hardware design.
Paloma Partners: Equity finance software consulting for hedge fund technology.
Video Poker: Video game software development for entertainment industry.P>
Northwestern Mutual: Usability engineering consulting for insurance systems.
Digital Equipment Corporation (now HP), Maynard, MA
Human Factors Consultant 1986 - 1988
Consulted on user interface design for computer-based products. Created a set of user interface design guidelines for product development. Performed product usability studies in Digital's Product Usability Laboratory. Worked part-time work during graduate school.
International Business Machines (IBM), Endicott, NY
Human Factors Engineer 1985
Conducted a study of alternative software interfaces for system administrators of minicomputers.
Associated Technologies, Inc., Clifton, NJ
Human Factors Engineer 1983 - 1984
Human Factors consulting for the electric power industry. Task analysis for reactor operator position (Salem Nuclear Generating Station). Assisted in the development of documentation for emergency operating procedures (Yankee Atomic). Performed a control room evaluation of a food processing facility (General Foods).
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy Tufts University 1990
Medford, Massachusetts
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Experimental Psychology - Human Factors Concentration
M.S., Masters of Science Degree Tufts University 1987
Medford, Massachusetts
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Experimental Psychology - Human Factors Concentration
B.S., Bachelor of Science Degree 1983
State University of New York, College at Oswego
MEMBER:
Usability Professionals Association
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society
ACM-SIGCHI (Computer-Human Interaction)
Stock Loan Division of Securities Industry Association
REFERENCES:
Available upon request.