Steven K. Roberts
Portfolio Summary




I've never had anything quite so formal as a CV or Resumé, but this compilation of published work and other projects (not including Winnebiko, BEHEMOTH, and Microship) should serve a similar purpose.  If you want more current information, I have a brief bio as well as daily updates.


Books

From BEHEMOTH to Microship (Nomadic Research Labs, 1991, ISBN 1-929470-00-2)  Self-published 110-page overview of bike and boat projects.

Computing Across America: The Bicycle Odyssey of a High-Tech Nomad (Learned Information, 1988, ISBN 0-938734-18-0)  Chronicles the author's first 10,000 miles around the US on a computer-laden recumbent bicycle from 1983 to 1985.  The book combines adventure, philosophy, high-tech, networking, bicycling, romance, and humor... and is a look at a relatively undocumented transition phase in American culture (from location-based to network-based existence).

Creative Design With Microcomputers (Prentice-Hall, 1984, ISBN 0-13-189317-3)  Comprehensive volume about the design of microprocessor-based industrial control systems, with attention to hardware/software balance, structure, the development proces, harsh environments, interfacing, DSP, communications, artificial intelligence, and so on.  The book's theme came to define the author's work: "Art without engineering is dreaming; engineering without art is calculating."  Originally published in hardcover as Industrial Design With Microcomputers (1982, ISBN 0-13-459461-4).

The Complete Guide to Microsystem Management (Prentice-Hall, 1984, ISBN 0-13-160556-9)  Describes the issues complicating the integration of a computer into a small business, including user-vendor relations, the system environment, maintenance, human factors, catastrophe, security, software considerations, and file organization.  Chosen as an alternative selection by both McMillan and McGraw-Hill book clubs.

Micromatics  (Scelbi Publications, 1980)  Tutorial on microprocessors, including economics of use, applications, design, and service.  This book was slanted to the technician, and grew out of the author's article series in ET/D magazine.



Articles

Publication
Date
Title
Description
Bicycle USA
May, 1988
Life Aboard the Winnebiko
Tales of the Computing Across America bicycle odyssey, by this point over 15,000 miles along.  Commentary on lifestyle; anecdotes of border crossings and "the great tollbridge caper."
Byte
Jan, 1979
Polyphony Made Easy
Author's polyphonic music keyboard interface for micro systems.  Reprinted in The Byte Book of Computer Music.

Sep, 1981
Artificial Intelligence (cover story) Introduction to and survey of the AI field, with discussion of vision and natural language. Research included attendance at AAAI-80 (Stanford)

Sep, 1981
Principles of AI (Nilsson)
Book review, co-authored with James Jenal. Discussion of predicate calculus and Artificial Intelligence field.

Sep, 1981
A Look at NCC '81
Photo essay on the National Computer Conference in Chicago

Dec, 1981
Online Information Retrieval
Discussion of the database industry, with applications examples and extrapolations. Research included attendance at 1981 National Online Meeting in NYC.

Jun, 1982
A Word-Counting Utility for Writers
Description of author's word-count program for text files, with 8080 assembly listing
California Bicyclist
Apr, 1987
Winnebiko: My High-tech Ticket to Freedom
Detailed description of bicycle control system, touring attitudes, communications, and travel style. Reprinted in Sacramento Bee, May 17, 1987
Chemical Processing
?
The Future of Process Control
Overview of current work in chemical industry processes, slanted toward distributed I/O and AI techniques
CompuServe Network
Sep, 1983 to Apr, 1985
Computing Across America (electronic column)
Online travelogue of the author's bicycle odyssey, updated randomly from the road.  Arguably the first blog.
Computers and Electronics
Mar, 1983
Crossed Signals
Logic circuit design quiz
Creative Computing
Feb, 1979
Music Composition: A New Technique
Presentation of author's BASIC program that generates fractal sequences for computer music composition
Computer Currents
Jun 30, 1987
Breaking the Chains
First of a series about using information tools to do business anywhere, based on experiences of the author's bicycle journey

Jul 14, 1987
Dataspace: The Essence of Disconnection
The essential network link in mobile business; home office connections and file management on the road

Jul 28, 1987
The Portable Office
Choosing a laptop computer, emphasizing battery life and ruggedness... recommending the HP Portable PLUS. Comments on custom interface with the bike's integral Model 100

Aug 11, 1987
Online and On the Air
Packet radio technology and implications for future wireless networks without corporate substrate

Aug 25, 1987
Modem Up, Move 'em Out Handling the telephone interface problem while traveling: modems, couplers, modular jacks, node cities, etc.

Sep 8, 1987
Life in the Solar System
Using photovoltaic modules and batteries to achieve independence from the power grid

Sep 22, 1987
Microdocumentation on the Road
Microfiche as a solution fo the problems of heavy system manuals and directories

Oct 6, 1987
Laptop Gawkers - A New Biohazard
How to deal with nosy people who look over your shoulder at the screen

Oct 20, 1987
Paper Databases
A look at tasks computers aren't very good at, with suggestions on structuring a mobile office to take advantage of the strenths of paper and silicon alike

Nov 3, 1987
Ham Radio in Your Briefcase?
Overview of ham radio for the traveler, with comments on packet, 2 meters, and HF... as well as some social commentary

Nov 17, 1987
The Illusion of Stability
How to maintain the relationship with a "universe interface" person while traveling full time

Dec 1, 1987
Layers of Dataspace
Commentary on the "network nationalism" that developed (pre-Internet, of course) through lack of interconnection between online hosts

Dec 15, 1987
An Ongoing Dialog
Final article in series, rhapsodizing at length about Dialog Information Service as a massive information resource
Cyclist
Aug, 1987
Salmon Riding
Story of riding a California mountain road with logging trucks in the rain (a version of this story is here)
East West Journal
Oct, 1980
Dr. Jekyll and Formalde Hyde
Quiz relating unusual ingredients with cosmetic and drug products
EDN
Apr 20, 1979
Simplify Microcomputer Software Development by Simulating an EPROM
Author's design for "RAMport" as an alternative to in-circuit emulation.  First known EPROM simulator.

Sep 1, 1982
Online Data Retrieval Eases Literature Searches
Commentary on the difficulty of gathering engineering information, and recommendations concerning use of online services
Electronic Packaging and Production
Sep, 1980
A Universal Wirelist Conversion Program
Presentation of author's program for conversion of an IC wirelist to universal wirewrap panel format
Electronics
Jul 25, 1974
Interfacing a Teletypewriter with an IC Microprocessor
Hardware logic technique for serial communication before wide availability of UAR/Ts (an 8008 talking to a Model 28 Baudot TTY!)
Electronics Today International
Dec, 1980
Black Box Problem
Electronic circuit quiz
Electronics Technician/Dealer (ET/D)
Aug, 1978
Micros on Your Bench?  (cover story)
Introduction to 7-part series about microprocessors, slanted to service technicians

Dec, 1978
Microprocessor Technology
Design of a hypothetical micro-controlled stereo cassette deck, with hardware and software details

Jan, 1979
Microprocessor Hardware - A First Look
Description of overall design of a micro system

May, 1979
Inside a Real Live Microprocessor (cover story)
Internal logic of the Intel 8080

Jul, 1979
Programming Computers
8080 instruction set and basic programming concepts

Aug, 1980
Microprocessors in the Real World
Overview of author's industrial data collection system developed for Corning Glass

Jul, 1981
Microprocessor Service - A Break with Tradition
Exploration of the problems and special tools associated with servicing micro-based equipment
GEnie Network
86-88
Weekly electronic column: Computing Across America (Miles with Maggie)
Ongoing weekly chronicle of the author's second high-tech bicycle odyssey around the US.  55 chapters were published in this series, widely reposted in newsletters, BBS, and later, websites
Instrumentation & Control Systems
Sep, 1986
The Future of Distributed Control
Written for Anatec (consulting client), this provides an overview of CIM, TQC, Ai, and new technologies of distributed process control.
Information Today
Nov, 1983
Buying a Computer: 8 or 16 Bits?
Discussion of bus-width trade-offs in computer selection

Jan, 1984
The Micro's Environment
The problems of noise, heat, static, and media care

Feb, 1984
Maintenance: An Ounce of Prevention
Preventive maintenance for a personal computer

Mar, 1984
Maintenance: A Pound of Cure
What to do when something fails

Apr, 1984
The Intelligent Online Terminal
Discussion of computer use in online information retrieval

Apr, 1984
Human Factors in Terminal Selection
Ergonomics of video-display terminals

May, 1984
Insuring Your System
Insurance considerations for the personal computer user

Jun, 1984
User Friendliness: In Sight at Last?
Overview of current efforts to make computers "human literate"

Jul-Aug, 1984
Commuting and Computing with a Portable
The author's experiences with portable computers while traveling the country by bicycle

Sep, 1984
The Network Universe
A look at the world of computer networks, emphasizing CompuServe

Nov, 1985
The Future of Computing (A Rhapsody)
Discussion of decentralized computer architectures required for artificial intelligence

Dec, 1985
Online Services - Offline Marketing
The use of offline demo disks to market information services, featuring Dow Jones News/Retrieval

Jan, 1986
Former CompuServe CEO Turns to Optical Discs
Account of Jeff Wilkins' formation of Discovery Systems, his "second startup venture" (after CompuServe)
Infoworld
Nov 10, 1980
Lament for the Semi-Sentient
Humor piece, investigating the sad plight of bored computers.  "What is the software equivalent of therapeutic knitting?"  This was before screen savers...
Interface Age
Sep, 1978
Copy/Sort/Search: 8080 Data Manipulation
The author's software tools for real-time data structure maintenance

Oct, 1982
Online Searching: A Primer (by Fenichel & Hogan)
Book review and brief discussion of online information retrieval
Journal of High Treknowledgy
6 issues, 1987-1989
various
Self-published magazine - ongoing stories and articles about the high-tech bicycle odyssey, beginning around the 12,000-mile mark. Became Nomadness
Kentucky Business Ledger
Aug, 1979
Big Eye
Report on author's development of computerized security system (patrol tour recording) for Seagram's Distillery

Oct, 1979
Solar Power Can Create New Role for Utilities
Speculations about distributed power generation, grid-intertie solar systems, and economic effects
Kilobaud Microcomputing
Jun, 1979
The Cromemco Z-2D
Review of Cromemco's hardware and software

Oct, 1979
Sweetening the Bytesaver
Author's technique for front-panel EPROM programming with Cromemco Bytesaver

Jan, 1981
Managing the Small-System Environment
A filing system designed to organize personal computer paperwork
Knapsack (AYH)
Summer, 1984
High-Tech Hosteling
The author's experiences in American Youth Hostels, featuring the Hostel in the Forest of Brunswick, Georgia
Link-Up
Nov, 1985
Life in Dataspace
Commentary about network society and telecommuting, from the perspective of the author's 10,000-mile bicycle journey

Dec, 1985
Electronic Bodysnatching
How to use online services to find the wizards in any field

Jan, 1986
Online and On the Air
Implications of two merging technologies: amateur radio and packet data communications
Louisville Today
Nov, 1979
Video Games: Computer Power to the People
Report on personal computers and game systems, slanted to Christmas season
Machine Design
Jan 12, 1978
Reliable Sensing with Optoelectronics
Lavishly illustrated article presenting numerous techniques for use of optical sensing in mechanical system design

Jan 26, 1978
Increasing Solenoid Speed
Two-step solenoid driver for optimizing efficiency
Mechanix Illustrated
Jun, 1982
Lofty Uses for Lowly Elements
Exploration of new uses for gold, aluminum, helium, tin, lead, silver, and silicon

Sep, 1982
The Robotics Revolution
Discussion of the robotics industry with emphasis on worker displacement, productivity, and America's stance in world markets. Research included attendance at ROBOTS VI conference in Detroit.
Mensa Bulletin
Jun, 1979
Lament for the Semi-Sentient
Computer humor (see Infoworld); also published in General Bull News Sheet, April-June, 1978
Midcon '83 Proceedings
Sep, 1983
Keeping Afloat in a Sea of Information
Online databases as a new engineering tool
Mini-Micro Systems
Sep, 1983
Computers Simulate Human Experts
In-depth report on expert systems and their application in engineering and factory automation

Dec, 1983
Artifical Intelligence
Overview of work in progress in natural language, vision, and expert systems; comments on social issues
North Coast View
Feb, 1987
Trollo
The Humboldt County birth of tricycle polo, a spin-off of the kinetic sculpture community
Online Searching: A Primer
1983
The Intelligent Online Terminal
(book chapter) - Description of uses for microcomputers in online work
Online Today monthly colum
Nov, 1983
The Technology
Introduction to monthly column: overview of equipment and support systems underlying the author's bicycle journey

Dec, 1983
Cruising the Hoosier State
The effect of the Winnebiko on Indiana folks and media

Jan, 1984
Discovering the Basics in Ohiopyle
A visit to the Pressley Ridge Wilderness School for emotionally-disturbed boys (Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania)

Feb, 1984
An Encounter in the Woods
A strange meeting with a band of prison inmates along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath

Mar, 1984
The Hosteling Experience
The diverse nature of youth hostels, with specific comments about the one in Brunswick, Georgia

Apr, 1984
Life in No-Node Land
General Impressions of a laid-back existence in Key West

May, 1984
An Awesome Voyage
A 211-mile sailing adventure from Key West to Clearwater, Florida

Jun, 1984
The Campground Culture
Experiences at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida

Jul, 1984
High Times in Robertsdale and Vancleave
Tales of small-town Alabama and Mississippi

Aug, 1984
The Winds of Change
A visit to the National Weather Service substation in Slidell, Louisiana

Sep, 1984
A High-Tech Oasis in the Texas Sun
A snapshot of Austin, Texas, including a party of BBS users and a visit with Joe Ely, local rock musician

Oct, 1984
The Hunting Expedition
A humorous tale of a hunting trip (for waterbugs) in Pecos, New Mexico.  Reprinted in Telluride Times

Nov, 1984
A Tolkein of My Affection
The magic of an ice cave near Lake City, Colorado

Dec, 1984
A Year on the Road - A Retrospective
The author looks back on the first year of his ongoing bicycle odyssey

Jan, 1985
Cycles: Wheeled and Otherwise
The nature of community in small Colorado Towns (Crested Butte in particular)

Feb, 1985
The Test of an Obsession
Harsh weather, lonely highways, and the indifference of Utah strangers threaten the journey

Mar, 1985
Looking for Life in the Desert
Perceptions of Palm Desert, California

Apr, 1985
A Southern California Winter
The images and realities of San Clemente, California

Jun, 1985
The Other Woman
After a period of waning interest in computers, that old feeling stirs again

Jul, 1985
The Greatest Risk
A discussion of the trade-offs between comfort and risk, concluding the article series with a sort of inhalation...
Online Today feature articles
Aug, 1983
Database Downloading
Analysis of a new problem facing the information industry: theft of database content for later re-processing. Includes how-to material.

Oct, 1983
Online Information Retrieval: A New Business Tool (cover story)
Detailed discussion of online information resources, slanted to business audience

Nov, 1983
Online: A Smorgasbord of Services
Analysis of database classes (bibliographic, etc) and suggestions for matching services to needs

Feb, 1984
Networking's New Frontier: Artificial Intelligence (cover story)
Lengthy discussion of AI with emphasis on network issues such as natural language understanding, database queries, and knowledge processing

Mar, 1984
Information Brokers: The Online Freelancers
The market for and role of trained intermediaries between online services and end users

May, 1984
Work at Home? Work Anywhere!
Description of the author's nomadic lifestyle of business and freedom, with comments on how the communications and support techniques can be applied to various professions.
Online Today short pieces
Oct, 1983
The Rise of the Intermediary
Short commentary on information brokers

Dec, 1983
The USR Password Modem
Product review

Feb, 1984
The Fifth Generation (Fiegenbaum & McCorduck)
Book review and discussion of Japanese work in AI

Feb, 1986
Bovine Computing
Dairy herds as closed-loop process-control environments

unknown
Nodes in the Sky
Short report on Equatorial Communications' satellite data network
Online Today online edition
May, 1985
SunCom Technical Covers
Product review
Popular Computing
Apr,1982
Don't (Zaks)
Book review with comments on computer use and care

Aug, 1984
High-Tech Nomad
Discussion of new lifestyles made possible by networks and portable computers, using the author's extended bicycle odyssey as a case study
Portable 100
Jul, 1984
A 100's Odyssey on a Recumbent (cover story)
The role of the Radio Shack Model 100 in the first 7,000 miles of the author's journey
Popular Science
Jul, 1984
Online and On the Road
Guest column in "Computer Adventures," introducing the author's recumbent bicycle journey around the US
73
Feb, 1988
On the Road and On the Air (cover story)
Technical feature article about the computer and communication systems aboard the Winnebiko.  This begins a monthly series.

Mar, 1988
Two Meters Aboard the Winnebiko
Discussion of bicycle-mobile 2-meter ham installation: handlebar PTT, helmet mic, power, rig choice, half-wave antenna, grounding, mounting...
Technology Review
Jan, 1983
To Teach a Machine
Philosophical discussion of software design, artificial intelligence, and abstract thought. Reprinted in Management Digest, May, 1982.
USA Today Jul 5, 1984
Roamin' free, but plugged into the job (cover story)
Overview of "Computing Across America" venture, introducing biweekly column (Money section) of the same name

Jul 19, 1984
New culture growing out of computers
Describes the world of electronic bulletin board systems (BBS)

Aug 2, 1984
Partying goes online for cyclist
The CompuServe CB culture and a party of system users in Columbus, Ohio

Aug 16, 1984
Computers reprogram production of album
Interrview with Austin rock musician Joe Ely

Sep 6, 1984
The high-tech alarm clock
A Louisiana man's use of the personal computer for home control

Sep 20, 1984
Mining plan raises consciousness in Colorado town
The environmental issue in Lake City, Colorado: plans to dismantle nearby Red Mountain for its alunite content

Oct 4, 1984
Menu a la computer
The use of a computer in daily restaurant operations of Gordon & Grimsley's (Aspen, Colorado)

Oct 18, 1984
Valley nurtures software ideas
A visit to Western Wares in the tiny southwest-Colorado town of Norwood

Nov 1, 1984
A traveler orders beer by computer
A strange online event during the author's trip to Charlotte, North Carolina

Nov 15, 1984
Electronic monitors helping breed the cream of the crop
Computers and remote telemetry assist dairy farmers by monitoring cows' estrus cycles
Whole Earth Review
Spring, 1987
Pedaling Through Dataspace
Discussion of the Computing Across America adventure, emphasizing information and communication systems, underlying technology, and motives
World Construction
Dec, 1981
Solving Air Filtration Problems
Discussion of particulate levels in Middle Eastern countries, with recommendations for air-cleaning techniques in new buildings
Writer's Digest Yearbook
1985
Breaking the Chains
Freelance writing on the road with a Hewlett-Packard Portable computer and CompuServe network communications


Speaking Engagements

NOTE:  All public appearances related to Winnebiko, BEHEMOTH, & Microship adventures are listed separately.  This small group only includes speeches prior to 1984.

Comdex/Europe '82
Amsterdam, Holland
Nov 11, 1982
"Trends in Future Technology" - Discussion of future computer architectures, artificial intelligence, and more
Computerfest '79
Louisville, Kentucky
Jun 30, 1979
"RAMPORT: A Development Tool" - Discussion of author's EPROM-simulation technique for micro system development
National Online Meeting '82
New York City
Mar 31, 1982
"Microcomputer Users' Introduction to Online Searching" - Exploration of online services and information retrieval software for small system users
National Online Meeting '83
New York City
Apr 13, 1983
"Using Microcomputers as Database Terminals" - Advantages of local processing intelligence for enhanced interaction with database services
Public Relations Society of America (keynote address)
Williamsburg, Virginia
Mar 29, 1982
"Why Can't a Computer be More Like a Human?" - Discussion of artificial intelligence and future man-machine interaction


Commercial Writing Contracts


American Air Filter
Brochure describing environmental and air filtration problems in the Middle East, with recommendations and descriptions of AAF equipment.
Anatec (Atlantic Richfield, later became CRISP Automation)
Brochures, detailed sales literature, articles, journal advertisements, and product documentation covering PDP-11-based process control system, I/O hardware, statistical process control, and the CRISP language.  Coined I/Onyx name.
Corning Glass
In-plant equipment documentation on control system for Blanchard grinders
Cybertronics
Press releases, catalogue design, and advertising copy
Dialog Information Services
Editorial work on Inside Business publication, marketing copy, PR exposure with bike. Articles for house organ included user profile of Alza Corporation (pharmaceutical delivery systems), an industry overview of biotech, and introductory columns for each issue.
Discovery Systems
Articles, brochure copy, fact sheets, media consulting, advertisements, internal publications (Videomatic Expressions), and online research for compact disc, CD-ROM, and videodisc design and manufacture
Dresser Industries
Manual covering operation, theory, and maintenance of Marion blast-hole drill control system
Lantech
Brochure on spiral stretch wrap load-unitizing system
Mining Technical Services
Sales literature on mining equipment maintenance software
Prentice-Hall
Assorted manuscript reviews
Specialty Engineering
Press release on ultraminiature hydrophones for biomedical applications
Vacuum Velocipede
Marketing copy for high-performance recumbent tricycle, "a machine for reaching escape velocity"


Consulting & Engineering Contracts


Corning Glass
Plant-wide industrial data collection system for Corhart Refractories (circa 1978). This distributetd network of ruggedized micro-based terminals interconnects plant activities with a DEC host computer, providing low-overhead factory data communications.  Featured in Industrial Design with Microcomputers textbook.

Stepper-motor downfeed control systems that interface the plant computers at three Corning sites with Blanchard vertical surface grinders.
Hodges X-Ray
Printed circuit board design for Traceray II X-Ray machine
Honeywell
Custom hardware and software package that provides the Delta 1000 environmental control and energy management system with an "English Language" front-end processor (circa 1975)
Lions Eye Research Center
Alternating-bar and checkerboard stimulus generators to produce constant-luminance pattern changes for electroretinography and visual evoked response patient data collection, and other custom electronics work.
Robinson-Nugent
Microprocessor-based machine control system that accepts or rejects "Quick-Connect" pinsockets during assembly on the basis of their insertion and withdrawal forces as measured with a load cell. System also yields real-time statistical analysis for QC and SPC.

Two random-logic machine control systems for automated assembly of IC sockets and related interconnects
Seagram's Distilleries
"Patrol tour recording system" that provides security at the Louisville plant by directing and reporting guard activity
Zonic
Software design and data structures for Model 6081 multichannel FFT analyzer, with provision for high-level operator interface, graphics, and communication with digital signal processing equipment
Miscellaneous
Online literature searches and consulting projects for a variety of clients (the Audy Group, Ultrasonic Devices, Scope, Atlantic Richfield, EEB, and others), including patent and prior art studies, market analysis, company investigations, medical literature searches, and general business information retrieval (mostly using Lockheed Dialog system; this was 1980-1984).