resume

stefan h — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:28:41 -0700

Stefan Hechenberger

Origin: Innsbruck, Austria, *1979
Background: Computer Science, Astronautics, Art and Design at various universities
Biography: Stefan Hechenberger is the co-founder of Nortd Labs. His research is focused on experimental user interfaces and advanced fabrication technologies. Recently he was a resident at Eyebeam, Culture Lab, Hyperwerk Institute, and Carnegie Mellon University STUDIO for Creative Inquiry. Driven by a profound interest in open collaboration models, he has been a constant contributer to many open source projects. He has played a key role in the computer vision, multitouch, and vector math addons of the OpenFrameworks project and has initiated wildly popular open hardware projects such as Touchkit (multitouch hardware) and Lasersaur (open source laser cutter). Generally he indulges in exploratory software and hardware engineering with an emphasis on interleaving virtual and physical media.
Research Interests: automated desktop fabrication and robotics, design by parametric/generative methods, user interfaces and simplicity.

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

Fellowships and Awards

Carnegie Mellon University STUDIO for Creative Inquiry Resident - 2012
Hyperwerk Institute for Postindustrial Design Resident - 2012
Maker Faire Bay Area Editor's Choice - 2011
CultureLab UK Fellow - 2011
Eyebeam Art and Technology Center Resident - 2007/2008
Makerfaire Editor's Choice Award - 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
ESA Space Engineering Convention Invitation - 2000

Selected Press

Articles:
Forbes january 2012
Make Magazine january 2012
Huffington Post dec 2011
Forbes december 2011
Make Magazine may 2011
Hack a Day may 2011
BBC april 2011
Make Magazine june 2010
ARTnews september 2009
MIT Technology Review december 2008
artform october 2008
Archinect october 2008
Der Standard (austria) september 2008
engadget august 2008
Make Magazine august 2008
Heise (germany) june 2008
slashdot june 2008
MIT Technology Review (germany) may 2008
The Economist may 2008
Popular Mechanics may 2008
MIT Technology Review may 2008
CNN may 2007

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

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

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