Title:
Distinguished Member Technical Staff, Video, Communications & Networking Systems
What is your focus at Sarnoff?
My main focus is the development of digital media technology and services. I am a technical manager or contributor on many projects involving the processing or encoding of video and audio signals. Past projects include the development of the ACTV and DIRECTV systems, launching of Sarnoff’s Compliance Bitstreams business, development of digital watermarking technology for DVDs, development of MPEG processing and analysis tools and technical leadership of a multi-company Video-Enhanced DSL project. I am also on the ATSC Board of Directors, the ICCE Technical Program Committee and am a member of MPEG, JVT, SMPTE and IEEE.
Describe a typical day for you at Sarnoff.
I usually start the day by reading professional and consumer industry news briefs. I attend scheduled staff meetings. If working on a project or investment program, I am usually consulting with colleagues, creating code, debugging a system or writing documentation. If working on business development, I am performing market research or consulting with management about the best contract to offer. If attending a trade show or conference, I am learning new technologies or networking with colleagues. If hosting clients or attending committee meetings, I am representing Sarnoff.
What experience did you have prior to joining Sarnoff?
I was a co-op student at AT&T Bell Labs in Holmdel, NJ. I did this while obtaining my combined BSEE/MSEE at MIT. While pursuing my Ph.D. at MIT’s Media Laboratory, I was also a Teaching Assistant for a graduate course on multi-dimensional DSP, and I taught brief courses on TV technology at MIT and at Wellesley College.
What is your background in academics?
I received a combined BSEE/MSEE at MIT (1983) and a Ph.D. in EECS at MIT (1986).
Why did you choose Sarnoff?
My Ph.D. thesis was titled “Modeling the Television Process”. When I interviewed at RCA Labs in the spring of 1986, I found out that they were working on an advanced TV system and were looking to grow the staff. I accepted the offer because I thought it was a good follow-on to my Ph.D. work. What better place to work than at the birthplace of color TV?
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Being part of the team that accepted a Technical Emmy® Award for Sarnoff’s Compliance Bitstreams. It was a real team effort, and it was great to get industry recognition for our work. Today, Sarnoff’s Compliance Bitstreams product is still the gold standard for testing digital receivers, an honor I hope will remain Sarnoff’s forever.
