DAVID L. FERRO (current April 2009)

 

Department of Computer Science

Weber State University

2401 University Circle

Ogden, UT 84408-2401

Phone: +1 (801) 626-8095, Fax: +1 (801) 626-7937

dferro@weber.edu

               

 

EDUCATION

2001        Ph.D., Science and Technology Studies, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech, VA

1995        MS, Science and Technology Studies, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech, VA

1984        BS, Computer Science, University of Lowell, MA

 

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2001- Present        Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Weber State University, Ogden, UT

 

May 2007 –

December 2007     Visiting Professor at the Computer-Human Interaction Unit of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.

Fall 1996 –

 Spring 1998        Visiting Research Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Center for the History and Sociology of Science, Philadelphia, PA

 

BOOK PUBLICATIONS

2010        Ferro, David and Eric Swedin,  The Science Fiction in Computing. Baltimore: McFarland Press, Jefferson, North Carolina (upcoming).

 

2007        Swedin, Eric and David L. Ferro, Computers, The Life Story of a Technology. Baltimore MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. (trade paperback),

 

2005        Anderson, Greg, David L. Ferro, and Robert Hilton, Connecting with Computer Science.  Boston: Thomson Course Technologies.

 

2005        Swedin, Eric and David L. Ferro, Computers, The Life Story of a Technology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

 

 

ARTICLE PUBLICATIONS

2009        Eisenhauer,  Joseph G., Doris Geide-Stevenson, and David L. Ferro. “Experimental Estimates of Taxpayer Ethics” in Review of Social Economy (upcoming).  

 

2008        Kari-Jouko Räihä, , Saila Ovaska & David Ferro, Observations on using clickers for peer evaluation.  In Carlo Giovannella, Paula Kotze, and William Wong (Eds.), Architecting the Future – Proceedings of HCIEd 2008, Annual International Conference of HCI Educators, Rome, Italy, April 2008, 127-134.  Published in the Magazine of Interaction Design and Architecture(s) II-III: 3&4, Winter 2007-Spring 2008.  Interaction Design & Architecture(s) IxD&A, Scuola IaD, Universita di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.  

 

2003        Eric Swedin and David L. Ferro, “Internet.” Encyclopedia of 20th-Century Technology.  London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. 

 

2002        Sharon Oviatt, Phil Cohen, Lizhong Wu, Lisbeth Duncan, Bernhard Suhm, Josh Bers, Thomas Holzman, Terry Winograd, James, Landay, Jim Larson, and David Ferro “Designing the User Interface for Multimodal Speech and Gesture Applications: State-of-the-Art Systems and Research Directions for 2000 and Beyond,” in John M. Carroll (ed.) Human-Computer Interaction in the New Millennium, pp. 419-456 . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

 

2000        Sharon Oviatt, Phil Cohen, Lizhong Wu, Lisbeth Duncan, Bernhard Suhm, Josh Bers, Thomas Holzman, Terry Winograd, James, Landay, Jim Larson, and David Ferro, “Designing the User Interface for Multimodal Speech and Pen-Based Gesture Applications: State-of-the-Art Systems and Future Research Directions.”  Human-Computer Interaction, 15 (4), pp. 263-322. 

 

1999        Larson, J. A., Oviatt, S. L., & Ferro, D, “Designing the User Interface for Pen and Speech Applications,” Proceedings: CHI '99 Workshop, Conference on Human Factors in Computing , Philadelphia, PA.

 

 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

2007        Ferro. David, “Science Fiction and Computing Development in U.S. and Finland”, History of Nordic Computing 2nd (HiNC2), August 21-23, 2007.  Turku, Finland.

 

2006        D. Ferro (Chair), “Missing the Future?: Murray Leinster, Vernor Vinge, and Science Fiction’s Prescient and Less-Than-Prescient Views of Open Source, Networks, and Personal Computers”,  Society for Social Studies of Science Annual Meeting.  November 1-5, 2006.  Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

 

2005        D. Ferro, “Computer History Museums.” First Annual WSU Faculty Research Forum, Weber State University, Ogden, UT.

 

2003        D. Ferro (Chair), “Addressing Gender in Online Computer Science Course Instruction.”  Birds of a Feather Session, ACM SIGCSE Annual Conference, Reno, NV.

 

1999        J.A. Larson, S.L. Oviatt, and D. Ferro, “Designing the User Interface for Pen and Speech Applications.”  ACM SIGCHI Annual Conference Workshop and Proceedings Abstract.  CHI '99 Workshop, Conference on Human Factors in Computing, Philadelphia, PA.

 

1999        D. Ferro, “Natural Bridge: The Use of Voice Recognition and Natural Language in the Aphasia Therapy System.” Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Thursday Lecture Series, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.

 

1997        D. Ferro. “Doing Ethnography from Deep Within: A High Tech Case.” Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ.

 

1996        D. Ferro, “The Commodification of Science through the Colonial American Newspaper.” Social Studies in History Association (SSHA) Conference, New Orleans, LA.

 

1996        D. Ferro (Facilitator), “Information Technology” session. Practicing Policy Workshop, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.

 

1995        D. Ferro (and Chair), “Coming of Age in the Multimedia Lab,” Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Annual Meeting, Charlottesville, VA.

 

1995        D. Ferro (Chair), “Information Technology in Environmental Engineering.”  Virginia Tech Science Policy Discussion Group Annual Conference, Blacksburg, VA

 

1993        D. Ferro (Chair), “Information Networks.”  Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Annual Meeting, West Lafayette, IN.

 

1993        D. Ferro, “The Social Construction of Science in Colonial America: the Popularization of Science Through Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette.”  Inquiries in Social Construction Conference, Durham, NH.

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Weber State University

                IST1100: Wired Society                                                     

                CS1020: Introduction to computing

                CS1030: Introduction to computing

                CS1030 (online): Introduction to computing                  

                CS2750: Object Oriented Analysis and Design              

                CS2350: Internet Programming                                          

                CS3350: Internet Programming                                          

                CS3350 (online): Internet Programming                           

                Math1140: Discrete Mathematics

                Math1630:  Discrete Mathematics                                    

                CS4830: Social Implications of Computing                     

                History4810: History of Technology                                       

 

RESEARCH PROJECTS AND GRANTS

(All at Weber State University)

                2009 Honors-Eccles Fellowship - $10,000

                2006 RS&PG Grant: Research at Syracuse University Archives - $4200

                2005 ARCC Dee Family Grant: Lampros Information Technology Display - $4000

                2004 ARCC Dee Family Grant: Lampros Information Technology Display - $6000

                2004 RS&PG Grant: Research at Computer History Museums - $1200

                2003 ARCC Dee Family Grant: smart detection agents - $3000

                2002 ARCC Dee Family Grant: Screen Recorder for Tutorials - $1192

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

July 2000 – August 2001

Senior Manager of e-Business Operations, IOMEGA, Roy, UT.  

                Managed seven person department that conducted email, banner, newsletter, and competitive price marketing campaigns; created and coded content for Iomega.com; managed 4.5 million registration database; analyzed click through, purchasing usability and demographic behavior.  Redesigned Iomega.com as international.  Operations lead in Blue Martini platform transition. Managed a 3.6 million dollar budget.  Coded in HTML, Javascript, Java.

 

 

June 1999 – July 2000

Co-Founder and Director of Product Management, EXPERTSERVICES.COM, Wilmington, DE.

Managed projects using IIS, ActiveX, Javascript, MS SQL and Apache, Perl, Java, Oracle.  Conducted market, competition and usability research and analysis; developed partnerships; managed QA; co-wrote business plans for b2c and b2b web products. 

 

November 1995 – June 2000

Principle/Staff Engineer UNISYS CORPORATION, Paoli, PA.

Developed tools for integrating voice recognition, natural language processing, telephony, and internet.  Developed patent submitted process for voice integrated applications. On-partner-site project leader for jointly developed voice application.  Lead developer and system manager for NIH funded research studying aphasia patients.  Designed and conducted HCI analysis.  Created documentation and taught course material.  Worked with Java, C++, Visual Basic, Prolog, Oracle on NT, Sun, Periphonics, Dialogic equipment and integrated recognizers including L&H, AT&T, IBM, Dragon, Philips, Nuance.

 

1999 (Summer)

Instructor, Department of English, VIRGINIA TECH, Blacksburg, VA.

Co-developed and taught English 3764, a full-credit, entirely on-line course in technical communication; used html and Javascript.

 

1992 – 1995

Graduate Assistant, Department of Sociology, VIRGINIA TECH, Blacksburg, VA. 

Managed a computer lab for students and faculty; software and hardware troubleshooting and instruction.

 

1994 – 1995

Reference Librarian, Newman Library, VIRGINIA TECH, Blacksburg, VA. 

                Assisted novice to expert researchers on academic projects and use of library resources. 

 

September 1990 – December 1991

Software Consultant, TECHNICAL OUTREACH GROUP, Melrose, MA.  

                Assisted non-profit organizations in software system design, procurement, development and integration; an outgrowth of the philanthropic group I founded at Lotus Development.

 

March 1989 – September 1990

Programmer, LOTUS DEVELOPMENT, Cambridge, MA.

Project leader Developing Electronic Update Systems for financial databases on CD ROM incorporating VAX's and Novell Networked PC's.  Drafted operation procedures and programmer documentation for a Stocks and Bonds database.  Worked in Hungarian C and proprietary object-oriented database language.

 

December 1986 - March 1989

Developer/Programmer, DRI/MCGRAW-HILL, Lexington, MA

Administered and enhanced Interleaf/Publishing System on SUN/UNIX Network.  Designed and developed econometric forecasting products and utilities.  Developed customer applications and related documentation.  Created course material and provided in-house instruction on product use.  Worked in C, database, communication, and econometric modeling products, on the PC and Burroughs mainframe.

 

February 1985 - June 1986

Programmer/Developer, COMPUTER IDENTICS, Canton, MA.

Designed integrated programs in C and databases for 68000 based systems.  Developed turn­key applications and was a customer liaison for company bar code systems.  Developed and extensively documented a language/compiler in C and assembler on UNIX system and ported to PC.

 

June 1984 - January 1985

Programmer/Developer, AOG SYSTEMS, Littleton, MA.

Developed prototype expert system product in Unify database environment.  Co-managed Unix operating system.  Wrote documentation for database utilities.  Worked on Dual 83/80, CP/M, Macintosh, and Xerox systems in C language.

May 1983 – July 1984

Programmer/Consultant, HAYDEN SOFTWARE, Lowell, MA.

Created educational game software.  Worked with graphics, sound, and systems level programming in 6502 assembly and basic on Apple, Atari, and Commodore computers.

 

 

SIGINIFICANT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Weber State University

Spring 2008 – present                          Chair, Faculty Senate

Spring 2008 – present                          Member, IT long-range planning committee

Spring 2006 - present                           Member, Executive Committee, Faculty Senate

Fall 2005 - present                                Chair, IT investigative committee

Fall 2004 - present                                Senator, Faculty Senate

August 2003 - present                         Member, Information Technology Council

August 2003 - June 2006                     Chair, Academic Resources and Computing Committee

Spring 2002 - present                           Member, WebCT Vista technology transfer project team                            

Spring 2002 - present                           Member, WebCT Vista Course Evaluation project stream

               

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Fall 2005                                 Consultant to Treehouse Children’s Museum Web Site

Fall 2003, Spring 2004          Service Learning class project, Implementation of Utah Campus Compact Web Site

Fall 2002 – present                               Director, Implementation of WSU Information Technology Display and Archive (“WSU IT museum”)

March 2000 – present                          Utah Junior and Senior High School Science Fair Judge             

 

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Fall 1985 - present                                Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

Special Interest Group on Computer Human Interfaces (SIGCHI); Special Interest Group on Computer Science Educators (SIGCSE)