Halloween Season, since 2004. Originally begun on an outing with the CSC Picture Project, I quickly developed no small interest in photographing haunted attractions.

After photographing just one haunted attraction in 2004, I was busy with three the next year--every attraction I asked!  As a result, my "Haunted Pictures" page quickly rose to the #1 page in MSN Search without any sort of advertising.

I have learned a great deal from experience by photographing these attractions.  As there seems to be no end to the attractions willing to invite me to perform my magic, I am positive I will have no trouble with finding places and situations that will increase photography skills.  As I fancy myself a traditionalist, all of these pictures are set up such that the pictures I get are exactly what the camera "sees".

I have thought of spinning this off into some business, but have so far resisted the urge, instead focusing entirely on the excitement this interest provides.

See the Haunted Pictures site

January 2005.  In short, this is an RSS feed built upon a web page ripper that shows people all available firmware for some Archos products, including the AV500, AV700, AV400, and AV300.

One of my more interesting purchases was an Archos AV500--a personal video recorder/portable media player.  I use the device to showcase my photography--especially the Haunted Pictures. 

I found a Yahoo group for Archos product owners and subscribed to it.  When someone suggested an RSS feed that notifies people of new firmware releases, I took it upon myself to create said feed.

This web application rips a text file from the Archos web site, which contains all firmware versions, bug fixes, and new features.  It parses the text file correctly to get all information about firmware versions into custom classes, orders it, formats it, and creates the RSS feed.  It is a nice piece of engineering akin to my private comics ripper.

This is one of the first full web applications I created that makes more than just light use of a private .Net toolkit I created for when I develop new applications.

Go to the Archos Update RSS Feed

Late February 2005, no end date.  This isn't actually a project per se; this is professional employment with a company.  Still, I list things I have worked on or on which I am working on this page, so I will also list this.

When I came to MDG, they introduced me to their product and explained one of the few advantages the competition had was reporting capability.  I was to take their design documents and create an advanced reporting addition to their product.  I was to be the only developer working on this project.  Basically, that meant I had full reign over the advanced reporting module's programmatic structure and development.  Sounds like all the other projects on this page; I was perfectly at home.

I have created the Advanced Reports and the Accounting Export Systems thus far--going from taking the UI design and creating all code, controls, database tables, and programmatic design.

Technologies Used:  ASP .Net with C#, AJAX, AJAX .Net (moderate), JavaScript (heavy), SQL Server 2000, C# Windows applications creation, SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services

Site is internal; no links provided.

February 2005 (site construction), no end date.  This is the second layout designed for the CSC Picture Project site.  I began the project in 2002 by opening my Strong College photography albums to the public.  The albums date from spring 2000 through the present. 

I decided to update the layout to whatever my current skill set would let me produce over a weekend.  The header itself, though built upon the previous site's header, took 3.5 hours to create before I was happy with it!  The site's code has been redone in ASP .Net with proper classes and user controls.  It employs a back end database to track requests for slide shows and better organization.

This is one of the smoothest layouts I have designed, as far as I am concerned.  The site is scheduled to be put out during the next Picture Project addition (supposedly at the 3,000 picture mark).  This left me one week to complete the entire site, from concept to production.

Fun Fact #1: I used my own pictures to create the cutouts found in the banner.  I had not experimented with the wand tool in Fireworks before this.  After creating the banner, I feel I am fairly competent in its use. 

Fun Fact #2: The automatic thumbnailer you see on the site is the same thumbnailer I use throughout all development.  When I need a thumbnailer, I use that one and only change the programmatic namespace.

Technologies Used:  Fireworks, ASP .Net (C#), MS Access, JavaScript, Visual Studio .Net (duh)

See the site:  www.DevFolio.com/csc2  (PhoenixPo.com owns DevFolio.com)

Summer 2005 - Winter 2005.  ConTrak is a full-fledged, web-oriented convention management system.  ConTrak currently handles convention registration, an art show, an auction, and the dealer room.  Specific features include an automatic badge printer, definition of a badge scheme (a listing of all badge types) per convention, art show auctions, receipt printing, and auction lot bundling on the fly.

This web application utilizes an MS Access database back end, configurable to use either a DSN or OLE connection.  ConTrak manages more than one convention at a time, allowing us at PhoenixPo.com W&D to open the system for other conventions to use.  If a fan-based convention needs an IS system, ConTrak will be an excellent choice.

Most importantly, ConTrak offers security.  Each user can be given specific permissions detailing what the user can and cannot access/do within the system.  Roles detailing common permissions are assigned to users in conjunction with specific permissions.  Convention types are used so specified users can have access to new conventions under that type the moment a new convention is created (separate permissions for convention types can also be used that work alongside permissions and roles for specific conventions).  If anything, ConTrak Systems is designed to offer safe and secure convention management before, during, and after conventions.  

Technologies Used:  C# with ASP .Net; MS Access back end (switchable DSN and OLE)

A demo site has been completed.

The design concepts and project overview document provides more information and screen shots.

Estimated completion:  Demo version, September 2004; Final Test, January 2004; Completed version one, January 2004.

More Information...

Fall 2004 - Winter 2005.  The financial game ("FinGame") is a web application that teaches teenagers real-world financial dynamics.  This is a contract project with a client.  The initial project estimation is 80 hours, which has not changed.

Users operate a checking and savings account.  From that, they can purchase assets (housing, subscription items, and consumer goods), stocks, insurance, and pay off debts that occur due to various circumstances.  "Bad events" can happen to various assets, such as a house catching fire or the car needing work, in which insurance plays a part.  Users can check their ranking against others in the game by paying a portion of their in-game funds.  Administrators control the game while master administrators have access to set up games, new assets, and such.

The FinGame is capable of running multiple games at one time.

Fun Fact #1: The site design here came from a UNCG quasi e-commerce site designed for one department a month prior.  The department put the project on hold after we designed the master concept (global site template) and, six months later, never mentioned it again.  Therefore, this application makes good use of that template.  At least the effort did not go to waste (and the client received a site template without being charged for it, too, so everyone wins).

Fun Fact #2: The FinGame and ConTrak Systems shared development time.  As we try to produce quality systems and limit cost to the customer, it was decided the low-level data layer developed for ConTrak would work well in the FinGame.  Other items developed for other uses also found their way into the FinGame, such as our automatic thumbnailer and ASP .Net 1.1 file uploader.  Many of those shared items, once refined in the FinGame, were then updated to their source.

Fall 2003-Winter 2004.  In that time, I worked on many things for the Bryan School.  I will discuss a few items here:

New MBA Web Site.  This link may change, but this points to the new incarnation of the MBA department's web site.  Design was outsourced and I received the pages, but the office eventually got me to redesign those pages, so I take credit for the one of the designs, though I tried to keep it faithful to the original design.  Eventually, the dean made a decision between two opposing departments to switch the design back to the original version, though I had to produce editable master images to keep updating the site.  Aside from the HTML table organization and navigation placement, I created everything else from scratch--including the images.  (DreamWeaver, FrontPage, and Fireworks)

Bryan School Faculty Directory.  I converted the Bryan School directory into an ASP application so faculty could be sorted by department or name without modifying many pages.  I also designed and constructed the detail page, which generally shows a picture and the professor's information.  I created a mobile version of the application accessible via cell phones before I left.  (ASP 3 with DSN to Oracle)

Online Syllabus Browser.  We wanted one place to upload syllabi for archiving and browsing by students and faculty.  The link here will take you to a few screen shots of just my part of the system, which was constructing the main browser and uploader.  The uploader is a simple form, so I do not show it here.  The system looks at what files are in a directory and displays them like in Windows.  It will take the file name, break it apart, and look up the course's name in the database.  If the course exists, it displays the course name along with the syllabus entry.  (C# ASP .Net with file system back end)

Photography Work.  I have numerous photo albums available on the Bryan School page, meaning I am finally receiving credit as a photographer.  (Canon EOS 10D digital SLR, image editing)

Spring 2004.4.  In order to finish ConSuite, discussed below, I stayed on campus during spring break.  One person approached me about constructing a music library for his church.  It sounded interesting and something I could do, so I met with him to discuss design, intent, and payment.  The resulting music library catalogues music pieces as either separate pieces or as part of a collection.  It is also possible for one to check items in and out from this library.  Adding items is very easy to do, as is adding them to a particular collection.  All in all, it is a nice system for the few days I spent to work on it.

Technologies Used:  ASP, MS Access back end via DNS, and graphics software.

Screenshots are available:  Main page, search, browse records, records detail, check in/out, and admin.

Winter 2004.  This project actually began in 2002, when I was asked to keep track of auction bids at the StellarCon convention.  I made a quick MS Access database to do this, and it was a popular hit.  I became registration manager the year after, and created a loose ASP site to manage registrations and as a front end for my auction database.  For year 2004, I was promoted to the newly-created position of Convention IT Manager.  From there, ConSuite was born.

ConSuite is literally a convention management web application, suitable for running wirelessly at conventions (security is built-in).  It is comprised of several modules, such as for registration, charity auctions, art auctions, and a picture archive.  I used ASP.Net again for this one, with a C# back end.  It took a few hours for me to learn enough of C# to complete the project because I could draw on my .Net and JAVA skills.

Technologies Used:  ASP, MS Access back end via DNS, and graphics software.

This site is not public domain; ConTrak Systems replaces ConSuite.

Fall 2003.  This is the first and only online application to make and decode multiple code sets, such as the "Geek Code".  Though I don't agree with some of the code sets entered into the system, I include them in an effort to gain support.

The Engine was my first foray into developing web applications with ASP.Net, using a VB.Net back end.  It was quite a lot of work, but the site was finally completed.  I will continue to add code sets to the Engine when I get free time.

Fun Fact: The 3D "target" part of the logo was made in MS Word.

Technologies Used:  VB .Net with ASP .Net, class files store codes, Fireworks, MS Word, MS Image Composer.

I have a special page set up for this project at www.PhoenixPo.com/codic.  From here, I reference everything.

Summer 2003.  The WOES is responsible for taking, automatically assigning, and organizing work orders to UNCG's ResNet IT staff.  I built the original version of the WOES the previous year and created this new site (front and back ends) for Fall 2003.  The site is run off ASP on Windows 2000 Server from a dedicated campus computer.

The site is PASSWORD PROTECTED, so you can click here at a later date to see more about this site.

Technologies Used:  ASP 3, MS Access back end via DNS, Fireworks, MS Image Composer.

For your convenience, I have put up a quick information page with screen shots.

Fall 2002 (site construction), no end date.  This site houses my "Picture Project," a listing of dorm events and pictures I have taken.  As of October 2003, the site has over 1,800 pictures spanning about four years.  The site runs on custom ASP and JavaScript.  The actual slide shows were made from Microsoft's Slide Show Power Toy. 

The site is available only during the semester, as it is hosted on my custom-built server at school.  The connection may be slow to outside computers because of where the server is located on campus.

The site is currently at a temporary location because my server is not on campus any more.  I will update the link here when it finds a current home.  As of July 2004, the link listed below is active.

Technologies Used:  Fireworks, MS Photo Editor, MS Image Composer, ASP (some), JavaScript (some)

See the site:  www.DevFolio.com/csc  (PhoenixPo.com owns DevFolio.com)

Spring 2002.  This site was for the athletics department at the high school I still volunteer at, four years later.  This site also formed the basis for my collegiate senior honors thesis, "SSSAthletics.org: Creation, Implementation, and End-User Training of a database-driven web site."  This site features lots of Active Server Pages (ASP) programming and many Server Side Includes.  I also began using some JavaScript on this site to shift some features to the client side.  The back end, which will not be shown here, features forms coaches can use to update the site without knowing HTML at all.

Fun Fact: I made this site at the same time I was learning ASP.

Update:  After a few years, I was finally able to create an automatic thumbnailer in ASP .Net, which resides on PhoenixPo.com, and link the picture table to this thumbnailer, which in turn thumbnails images on the athletics site.  This is how I get around server technology limitations.  In short, the athletics site now has automatic thumbnails.

Technologies Used:  ASP 3, MS Access back end, MS Image Composer, MS InterDev.

See the site:  www.SSSAthletics.org  (PhoenixPo.com owns SSSAthletics.org)

Summer 2000.  HTV is a commercial lodging products distributor for the southeast US.  I revamped my previously done site for HTV to show a better menu and navigation structure.  The site itself uses Server Side Includes and predates my programming skills by about a year.  I look at this site to provide a marker for where I was before I learned web programming.  I eventually added some pages that made use of ASP and updated the pages and templates to use ASP in the summer of 2002 or 2003.

Technologies Used:  SHTML (now some ASP), Fireworks, MS Image Composer, HTML.

See the site:  www.HTVEnterprises.com