Tag Archive: Javascript

Volved

Volved.org was developed as a search engine wrapper that would allow users to stay in touch with their favorite cause while also raising revenue for it. You set your browser’s default search engine to Volved. Then when you search, you are transferred to the Volved site which presents results, cause news and ads.

The project was done with WordPress and a custom theme, using PHP, MySQL, Javascript and jQuery.

Unfortunately Volved’s access to Google AdWords was suspended without explanation. We eventually had to give up on the project. This video gives a sense of what the whole thing was about.

 

Autosked – Service Appointment Optimization for Auto Dealers

makeapptAutosked is kind of a quirky product. The code base started life as a tee time management system for Portland golf courses. A golf-playing exec from a local car dealership asked if software could be modified to manage customer appointments in his lube / oil change bays. And Autosked was born. Many years later, the package is still used at many dealerships where it is viewed as indispensable.

My contribution has been to write two new dealer management system (DMS) interfaces and create a web app for consumers to schedule their own appointments. You can see that at work here at one customer’s site. This is a single page app that uses a lot of javascript and Bootstrap.

The DMS interfaces are a combination of php, Unix shell scripts and C programs.

In addition, I’ve been taking steps to bring more best practices to the development process at the company.

Mobile Search for Your Cause

A mobile application using WordPress, PHP, Javascript, the Sencha Touch and PhoneGap for mobile searching that feeds ad revenue to one’s favorite charity.

The app is a wrapper for Google Custom Search. On those occasions when a user clicks an ad in the search results, part of the resulting revenue goes to the cause she chooses. In addition, that organization can keep her informed about its activities via a news feed in the app. Given that we search often, the connection with one’s cause will be much stronger. The app will also allow givers to the same cause to network with each other and invite others to join.

WindowsMobileTraining

ViaTraining, now part of General Physics, creates enterprise learning management systems. Their original system was based in LAMP and they had a contract with Microsoft who, not surprisingly, preferred that ASP.NET and SQL Server be used.

I helped with the port to .NET technology and globalized the interface. Windows Mobile Training was in use for about seven years and typically had about 10k users in 13 languages at retailers like Best Buy.  The system managed their training progress and dispensed incentive rewards.

Hotel Internet Kiosk

In the days before wifi in hotels, there was a real need among travellers to somehow connect to email. I worked with a kiosk manager to create a system that allowed payment and metering of kiosk usage in hotels.  I used MS Access, Visual Basic and Javascript to control and monitor a credit card reader and currency collector. I also created an email portal that would inter-connect to AOL, Hotmail or whatever server the user desired.