My C.V.

Nicolas David Fortescue



Date of Birth:


10 January, 1977

Nationality:
British

Email address:

nick@ox.compsoc.net





Home Address:
Available on request







Work Address:

Available on request.




Skills

Key Skills
My Key skills are in Fixed Income Finance, Software Engineering and Software Research. My specialities are in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Algorithm design, and Security. 2000-2004 I was involved in all stages in producing a large financial application in Java, During 1999/2000 I was working on the W3C Voice Browser standard, which combined my expertise in HCI areas with protocols and security. I have particular expertise with the Java Speech API

Programming
Fluent in Java, ANSI C, C++. Some experience of various other languages including COM, JavaScript, Perl, shell scripts, HTML, Z80 assembler, etc.
Software Engineering
I drove the use of Extreme Programming as a development methodology at Smartspread, including unit testing with the JUnit framework, and Continuous Integration using Cruise Control and Ant. I am always using my good knowledge of Design Patterns, Refactoring, and OO design. I also have experience with both memory and CPU profiling, most recently with JProbe for Java, and in the past with Purify and Quantify for C/C++.

Operating Systems
Familiar with UNIX, Windows XP/2000/NT/95.
Languages
My French and German are both still probably at GCSE level. I have a Cambridge Certificate in Japanese and Japanese studies.

Education and Qualifications

2002-present
Studying for an Open University degree in Psychology. (300 points completed of the 360 needed for a degree)
2000
Euro-Japanese Exchange
Foundation

Cambridge Certificate in Japanese and Japanese Studies
Reading - distinction, Writing - distinction, Listening - distinction, Speaking - merit

1995-97
St. Edmund Hall, Oxford
1998
First Class BA Honours Degree in Mathematics in Computation. BT prize for being top of my year in Computation or Mathematics and Computation. Scholar of St. Edmund Hall.
1996
Classified First Class in Honour Moderations in Mathematics and Computation
1990-95
Pates Grammar School, Cheltenham
1995
A levels
  • Mathematics A
  • Further Mathematics A
  • Physics A
  • Chemistry A


AS levels
  • Technology B

1993
GCSE's
  • 10 grade A (Eng lang, Eng Lit, French,
    German, History, Geography, Mathematics
    Combined Science (2 GCSEs), Technology)
  • 1 grade B (Russian)

Experience


Work

2004 to date. Vega Capital Services Limited.

2000-2004: CTO at Smartspread


1998-2000: Research Scientist at Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd. Working in the

Interaction Department. At least two patents granted, depending on how you count them. The best way of searching is probably inventor=fortescue and applicant=canon. Ones I know about are:
JP2001272995, JP2001209393, US2001037201, EP1126436, and GB2355833.

1995,96,97: Computer Related Summer work for my sponsors (details on request)

Programming
In 1996,1997, and 1998 I was team manager and programmer in a team entering the
British Computer Society Programming Competition. We won in 1997 and 1998, and were fourth in 1996.
University

Research


Work:
  • Implementation of programming languages
  • Mathematical/Computational algorithms and design
  • Dialogue Systems
  • Multimodal Interfaces
  • W3C Voice Browser standard

Interests


Sports
Currently mostly modern jive dance (mostly Ceroc) and Swing (all forms but especially Lindy Hop). In 2003 won the UK National Aerials Championship, at Beach Boogie. In the past, rock climbing, hang gliding and ice hockey. Occasionally badminton, hill walking, squash, Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball and roller blading.
Games
I play Go, and am graded at 3 kyu.



References


References, both academic and employers are available on request.