Amy Gorin
agorinsf@netscape.net
1-415-637-4757 (cell/voicemail)
My freelance writing projects have included designing animations for a multimedia calculus textbook, research for and creation of information files for inclusion in an online medical reference for health care consumers, and writing audio dialogs and evaluation questions for an ESL workbook.
As a technical writer, my experience includes writing and implementing several different documentation sets that used a single source to produce both printed matter and online help (using Emacs and Techinfo; Framemaker and Frameviewer; and Framemaker, HTML, and Robohelp).
My most recently finished project is a conceptual edit of a book on the Semantic Web and e-business. I am also currently reworking a personal website for a well-known CRM consultant.
I have worked extensively in both UNIX and Windows/MS Office environments.
My user interaction consulting experience includes managing and participating in ethnographic research, benchmarking, requirements analysis and functionality brainstorming, usability analysis, and user testing. Specific deliverables have included design wireframes, UI specifications, widget specifications, and detailed usability reports.
Computing Reviews, Palo Alto CA
Computing Reviews, a publication of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), publishes synopses and reviews of books and papers in fields ranging from mathematical theory to business administration to user interface design. As a rewrite editor, I do everything from a light copy edit of essentially finished material to completely reworking text written by non-native speakers of English.
The Annals of Improbable Research, Cambridge MA
AIR is a semimonthly publication often described as "the MAD Magazine of Science." I created HotAIR in 1994 using Emacs and HTML 1.0, and in 1999 transitioned the site to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).During my time as Webmaster, HotAIR was listed on Pointcom's Top 5%, as a USA Today Hotsite (four times), and as an Exploratorium cool site. It was consistently ranked as the Internet's most popular science humor site by Yahoo and Google.
Open Country, Redwood City CA
I designed the user interface for Open Country's suite of products, including working with marketing to determine requirements, creating mockups for preliminary evaluation, conducting user testing, and participating in the design and implementation process to insure that usability guidelines were followed. I also acted as product manager for the 1.0 release.
Securant.com, San Francisco CA
I wrote the User's Guide for Securant's network security tool, including procedural and conceptual prose and online help. I also did quality assurance and usability analysis of the product's Web interface, Java interface, and installation procedure. Securant merged with RSA Security in 2001.
TCN, Cambridge MA
TCN provides telecommunications services and consulting to nonprofit organizations. I was hired as part of an attempt to enter the Internet and Web services market. In addition to working on website usability and implementation, I researched, designed, and implemented an online ad campaign for TCN's services, did project definition, costing, and tracking using MS Project, and explored ways to increase traffic to TCN's website.
Padra.com, San Francisco CA
I wrote the UI spec for this Internet startup, and worked with graphic designers and the company founders to develop and design an overall look and feel for the site. Padra was disbanded in November 1999 after expected funding did not materialize.
The Genome Radio Project, Berkeley CA
I was initially hired by the Genome Radio Project to create a mockup of a website for the syndicated public radio program The DNA Files, as well as to provide advice to project planners and artists who were unfamiliar with Internet technologies and limitations. During the original design discussions, a proposal was generated for an interactive "scenario tree." Once funding was obtained to develop the site fully, I was recalled to research and create these scenarios. The site was launched in December of 1998. The DNA Files won a Peabody Award in 2002.
Department of Communication, Stanford University
As a graduate student within the Communication Department, I was a teaching assistant for classes including "Computers and Interfaces: Psychological and Social Issues," and "Communication Research Methods." I also designed, implemented, and ran social science experiments investigating issues in computer-human interface.
The Manus Project, MIT's Newman Lab, Cambridge MA
The Manus project developed a computerized robotic system for neurological rehabilitation and physical therapy. I designed and implemented a graphical user interface for the system to be used by therapists and patients. My duties included generating proposals for interface solutions, meeting with project leaders to finalize project plans and schedules, programming in C++, demonstrating work in progress for the laboratory staff, writing end-user documentation for my programs and those of other programmers, and helping in the installation, testing, and debugging of the system at our first beta site. As part of my research for the Manus project, I also worked for two months as a nurse's aide at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.
ICAD Inc., Cambridge MA
ICAD developed and distributed a LISP-based CAD adjunct called "The ICAD System." I worked closely with programmers and marketing staff to prepare programmer's references, installation guides, and release notes. I also implemented an in-house hypertext documentation style guide using Framemaker and Frameviewer.
Project GNU, The Free Software Foundation, Cambridge MA
I worked with project programmers to produce technical reference material and tutorials. GNU documentation was written and distributed using Techinfo, a simultaneous text and hypertext publication system.
PC Week, Ziff-Davis Publishing, Boston MA
I researched and wrote news and feature articles for the Connectivity section, which focused on business applications of networking technology (clippings on request). In my last five months at PC Week, I also designed and implemented a networked Paradox database system. PC Week is now known as "e-week."
MIT Lingo Project, MIT's Project Athena, Cambridge MA
I created detailed, cartoon-like screen icons to be used as part of an interactive language teaching program. I also worked with programmers to improve the usability of "Crayon," the project's picture-processing software.
The Tech, MIT's Student Newspaper, Cambridge MA
I did page design, layout, typesetting, and paste-up. As production manager, I also acted as the liaison between The Tech's production shop and outside clients who retained our design and production services. As a night editor, I oversaw and trained production workers, and did final editing of copy and artwork. I also wrote the occasional article.
Additional substantial course work in industrial engineering/management and product design at both MIT and Stanford
I am currently studying interior architecture and sustainable/accessible design at the UC Berkeley Extension in San Francisco.