Brie

1998 Job Ambitions

Note: I originally had this conetent on my home page. In February 1998, I created it to demonstrate my job ambitions. Rather than archive it, I updated the first paragraph to represent my current job status, but then I realized the remainder was still from 1998.
Thanks for coming to my home page. I have run www.brie.com since its inception. Until recently, I worked at WorldCom in Sacramento. I am currently serching for a full time job doing programming / development preferably in a Linux / Unix environment. I also do consulting on the side when time permits. Since I often use this page as a supplement to my resume, I'll expand on perhaps the ideal job.

My ideal job would be one that involved the use of the internet, Linux/Unix system architecture, and database storage. I think the perfect compliment to the World Wide Web would be a world wide navigation system. You would look on the web to get information about a location and your world wide navigation system would guide you there. The reality of this concept is already functioning in place. It is called GPS and it will guide you to anyplace in the world within a block, much closer depending upon your equipment, or whether you are US military.

Let me create a scenario of the product I would like to create. I grew up in the Napa Valley where there are between two to three hundred wineries (keeps changing). Many are located along the heavily traveled Highway 29. Others are hidden in secluded areas, which are difficult to find. With my proposed pre trip planning guide you would peruse different wineries and attractions featuring photos of each location, similar to my Brie Business Directory, but on a wider scale. You see a winery hidden in a secluded area off the Silverado Trail. A former rancher who has a love for wine and has converted his barn to a winery runs it. Turn of the century Chinese laborers dug the cave in the hill which he restored its use as a cellar. You think that would be a unique place to visit, so you check it and the itinerary builder shows the winery location on the map. You use the search function to find other wineries in the area. You find another winery, which features a tram. The photo shows a spectacular view over vineyards and a glider soaring overhead. You check it off. Eventually you have four wineries in your itinerary basket.

You go to the preview map showing the wineries locations. You click on the map for a starting point. The itinerary builder creates a route from your starting point to the wineries. You decide to change your agenda, so the third winery is now second. You hook your handheld Garmin GPS III to your computer and you download your route.

You debark from your plane at the SFO airport. You get your rental Chevrolet Prizm and you place your GPS on the dash. You select the 'goto' button and you choose the Bed and Breakfast Inn you are staying for that night. The GPS shows you where you are on the map, and an arrow points the direction to go to get to your destination. It shows your speed and distance to destination. It also indicates when to turn. You arrive exactly at the Bed and Breakfast.

The following day you depart on your tour of the Napa Valley with your GPS mounted to the dash. You arrive at the secluded winery. The wine maker entertains your ears with stories of wine making and that of the valley as you sample his selection. You discover you spent more time than expected, so you with your Garmin GPS III select 'goto' to your third destination. It guides your there. Your day has ended and you are ready to go back to the Bed and Breakfast Inn for some relaxation. You select 'goto' on the Garmin and it guides you there.

Sound like science fiction? The technology for this is here and I have worked with virtually all of it.

Photos on the web are easily created from Kodak Photo CD's, my method of choice, or scanned, or digital camera (still inferior to your basic 35mm case with even a standard 50mm lens). The itinerary builder can be made using a database server such as mSQL, mySQL, Oracle, etc. The interface to the database is best done with PERL. Maps for the guide can be made using the map server from the Census Bureau's Tiger Map Server, ESRI's Internet map server, or USGS maps. ESRI also offers Arcview. GNU software available is Grass which works on UNIX. Or perhaps subcontracting with Mapquest. The handheld GPS navigation device is the Garmin III. I had one for a short period and it was outstanding. My impression from the sci.geo.satellite-nav Usenet newsgroup and personal experience indicates Garmin holds a strong lead in the personal GPS navigation field. I read that they will introduce later this year an elaborate unit for cars.

I am looking for a company that would make this their goal or is already working towards this as their goal. Please contact me if you have a position related to this, so we can make this scenario reality.


(C) 2003
Brie Web Publishing
PO Box 19184
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 628-0726

Last modified: Thu Mar 20 12:01:46 2003