Biographical Profile

Don has been a computer professional for 22 years, having begun his career as a mainframe systems programmer at Michigan State University. In 1975, he joined NCR, where he was involved in the development of electronic point-of-sale systems for 11 years. He held many positions in this organization, including software development, architecture, and the management of software and systems development departments.

In 1986, Don transferred to NCR's PC development organization, where he has worked until December 1995. That organization became part of AT&T in 1991. In the PC operation, he led PC hardware and systems development teams, provided architectural and performance analysis direction, and tracked advanced technologies. The latest area represents more than half of Don's work in the PC group and includes monitoring several emerging technologies, identifying their potential roles in PC products, and defining the division's strategies for the adoption and utilization of those technologies.

Most recently, Don led the division's computer speech program, defining the strategy and roadmap for this critical new technology, and coordinating development programs with Bell Labs Research. Since the use of speech has a very significant effect on the way we use computers, Don has become heavily involved in the area of human factors, participating in user-centered design activities and needs analysis for our system development efforts. To develop this capability further, he is now doing graduate work at Clemson University in the area of human-computer interface design.

Don has been a speaker on both hardware and software architecture topics at corporate and industry conferences. He has also been published in the NCR Journal, NCR's corporate journal of research and technology.