Welcome to my professional and personal projects website. I selected the most interesting and challenging projects I have worked on over the years both at work and home. If you would like more information on a select project or would like a copy of my resume please email me at charlie.ruggiero@gmail.com
Professional Summary
IT professional with over 10 years of experience creative problem solving, client support, and training at local and at remote locations with a wide range of hardware and software. Experience with server backup implementation and maintenance. Responsible for planning and implementing hardware and software for technology learning spaces. Provide technology guidance to senior managers. Work weekly with our IT team to solve organization-wide problems and tackle the challenge of preparing for future technology trends pertinent to our organization with the ultimate goal of better preparing our employees, support, and purchasing in connection with those trends.
Professional Projects
Learning Space and Conference Room Design
Planning, budgeting, constructing and supporting 12 state of the art classrooms, labs, and conference rooms. Many rooms include selectable student station projection, HD Polycom systems, Echo 360 hardware, and Smart Boards. Newer rooms include dual displays with separate selectable input sources. With each new room we gather feedback from faculty and students to keep up with evolving technology and client needs. See more images of the rooms I have worked on at Technology Rooms.
Touch Screen Control
Touch screen graphics and back-end control system using RS-232, custom designed for each of 7 classrooms and 3 conference rooms. Controlled equipment includes projectors, LCD TVs, Polycoms, output from Windows and iMac stations, and student laptops. Selectable sources for each screen are available in the rooms with dual screens.
EASE History
The EASE History site allows visitors to compare video, audio, and text in an easy to use interface. The content includes historical events, core values, and older political advertisements. Visitors can choose 2 or 4 comparative windows as well as see linked clips, images, and text. Advanced search options are available to those who wish to dig deeper into the platform's content.
Custom Website Design
Custom websites powered by PHP and MySQL database. Sites are built with HTML, CSS, and include client specified features and a customized administration system to allow the client to make changes at any time.
Interactive Video Learning Application
Created using iShell development software, this application for Windows and Mac OS X allows instructors to pre-load teaching video for college students to review. Students can create clips of the videos, add their observations, and turn in their work to the instructor. I crafted the application based on user feedback to suit the specific needs of the College.
Personal Summary
Technology has been a passion of mine since my father brought home the Commodore VIC-20 with included tape deck. We would type in programs from BYTE magazine together. Later we upgraded to an Apple IIe, and when I could afford it, I bought my first computer: a used Mac Plus. I ran my own dial-up bulletin board and spent hours on it every day. I love building computers and taking gadgets apart to see how they work. I've made many Home Theatre PCs over the years using MythTV, GB-PVR, BeyondTV, and most recently SageTV. Below are some of my personal projects.
Personal Projects
Personal Websites, Art, and Fiction
I host my own Wordpress site with select short and medium length fiction as well as illustrations. I do not claim to be an amazing writer or illustrator, but I have fun doing it and put it online in case someone else finds it entertaining as well.
I have created personal websites over the years on a number of domain names using HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, and graphic tools like Photoshop and Fireworks. I also have created or administered other web based applications like a knowledge base, wiki, inventory, worklog, video conversion site, and flash and php based audio and text chat application. Visit Atomic Red to read my fiction and check out some digital art.
Linux Based MAME Table
A cocktail MAME table with working coin slots, lights, auto screen rotation for horizontal and vertical games, and a self-designed under-glass overlay. The project involved building the frame and finding the correct parts, game monitor, controllers, and computer that would work best together while keeping within a modest budget.
3D Sketchup Designs and Printing
The Makerbot Thing-o-Matic has opened up a whole new world of enjoyment for me. Experience designing and ultimately seeing those designs become real objects has improved my ability to assess and solve problems in the design stage. Here are some of the objects I have designed and printed. See models I have made available for others to print on Thingiverse.
