resume

stefan h — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:45:46 -0800

Stefan Hechenberger

Origin: Innsbruck, Austria, *1979
Background: Computer Science, Astronautics, Art, and Design at various universities
Biography: Stefan Hechenberger is currently a researcher at Nortd Labs working on experimental user interfaces and advanced fabrication technologies. He recently was a resident at Eyebeam doing R&D on multitouch systems, kinetic architecture, and UAVs. Driven by a profound interest in open source, he has been a constant contributer to the OpenFrameworks project and has played a key role in the computer vision, multitouch, and vector math addons. Generally he indulges in exploratory software and hardware engineering with an emphasis on architecture, product design, tangible media, and motion synthesis. Previously he had been studying in Germany and California and holds a masters from New York University, ITP.
Research Interests: creating methodologies for parametric/generative design in architecture and industrial design, fostering synergies of hardware, software and physical interfaces, and leveraging the aesthetic use of motion analysis and motion synthesis.

Education

New York University, Tisch School of the Arts - 2005-2008
Master of Professional Studies, Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).
Thesis Project: Cubit, a multi-touch surface interface
Relevant coursework: Networked Expression, Algorithmic Composition, Recapturing Life, Nature of Code, Physical Computing, Network Effects, Computational Form, Mechanisms and Things that Move, Computational Cameras, Fabricating Information, Audio Synthesis Techniques

San Jose State University, California - 2001-2005
Master of Fine Arts, CADRE Laboratory for New Media
Dissertation: Form Follows Computation: Parametric Modeling with Parama
Advisors: Joel Slayton, John McClusky
Relevant coursework: Networks and Systems, Human Machine Interface, Digital Synthesis, Culture through Film, Art and Information, Art as System, Digital Media Theory, Furniture Design, Architectural Lighting Design, 3D Concepts, Graphic Design History and Theory, Art of the 20th Century, Art of the Italian Renaissance 15th and 16th Century, Museum and Gallery Operations

Technical University Munich, Germany - 1999-2001
Vordiplom, Computer Science and Astronautics
Relevant coursework: Technical Foundations of Computer Science, Programming Web Objects, Concrete Mathematics, Advance Mathematics I and II, Space Stations I, Space Technologies, Space Systems, Physical Foundations of Astronautics

Experience

Systems Designer, Lasersaur open-source laser cutter - 2010-ongoing
API Designer, VirtualAwesome project for Nortd Labs - 2009
Industrial Designer, Cubit and TouchKit projects for Nortd Labs - 2008
Interviewer, sessions with Tim O'Reilly (publisher), Jan Hauser (computer pioneer), Douglas Engelbart (computer pioneer, inventor of the mouse) et al - 2004
Teaching Assistant at CADRE Lab - 2004
Lecturer, Networks and Systems class at the CADRE Lab - 2004
Artists in Residence Committee, International Symposium of Electronic Art (ISEA) - 2005
Managing Editor, Switch New Media Journal - 2003-2004

Proficiencies

Software Engineering
Relevant Core Languages: C, C++, Objective-C, Java, Python
Computer Graphics/Vision: OpenSceneGraph, OpenCV, OpenGL, OpenFrameworks
Sound Synthesis/Music: MIDI, The Synthesis ToolKit
3D Modeling: Maya-Python, Maya-MEL, RhinoScript, AutoCAD-VBA
Web: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX, PHP, ActionScript, SQL

Hardware Engineering
Mechanical Actuation CNC drive systems
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and assemblage.
Basic Hardware Description Language (HDL).
Vision-based Multitouch Sensors prototyping and production.

Operating Systems
Advanced Linux, OSX, Windows software development and administration.

Languages
German (fluent)
English (fluent)
French (elementary)

Exhibitions and Presentations

Lasersaur Research Residency Hyperwerk, Basel - 2012
Lasersaur Research Residency CultureLab, UK - 2011
Lasersaur Speech Open Hardware Summit - 2011
Lasersaur Presentation Makerfaire - 2011
Lecture Series University of Texas, Austin - 2009
Shadow Project (Eyebeam, NYC) - 2008
CUBIT Multitouch System (ITP Winter Show) - 2007
Motionspace (ITP Winter Show) - 2006
Brute Performance Kit (ITP Winter Show) - 2005
PARAMA: Form Follows Computation (Gallery 4) - 2004
Process -> Artifact Case Study (Gallery 3) - 2003
WEDYD (Gallery 2) - 2000
Manifesto (Herbert Sanders Gallery) - 2000

Selected Press

Articles:
Volume Magazine june/july 2011 in print edition
Make Magazine 2011 http://blog.makezine.com/
ARTnews september 2009 in print edition
Arcinect 2009 http://archinect.com/features/article/80923/showcase-touchkit-by-nor_-d
MIT Technology Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20703/page1/
Economist: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11288385
Slashdot: http://hardware.slashdot.org/hardware/08/05/02/2220242.shtml
Digg: http://digg.com/linux_unix/Open_Source_Multitouch_Display_2
Heise Technology Review: http://www.heise.de/tr/artikel/108068

Books:
Interactive Gestures: Designing Gestural Interfaces by Dan Saffer
Programming Interactivity by Joshua Noble

Awards/Prizes

Makerfaire Editor's Choice Award for Lasersaur - 2011
Fang Quai New Media Achievement Award - 2004
Dean's Scholar, San Jose State University - 2003
CADRE New Media Achievement Scholarship - 2003
Fang Quai New Media Achievement Award - 2002
Invitation to ESA Space Engineering Convention - 2000

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