Initial production of a prototype was completed in a few weeks by a very small team consisting of a single database/web developer, an art director and a front-end developer. The original platform was Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player 8. The choice of platform allowed the team to create a very small application (26k) that eliminated the operating system interfaces to the end user, and tied in the bar code scanner. The engine was developed as a private web site, using standard web development techniques, with the exception that there was no need to waste time supporting other platforms.

First versions included only “Scan” functionality. The assumption was that if a customer already had the product in their hand, there was a better chance of impacting a sale. Soon, “Browse” and “Search” were brought online and added. Cash register data from the merchandise management system was tied into the reporting on the system. This allowed management to analyze “Impacted Sales” (% of total receipts scanned) and scan-to-buy (% of scanned items purchased). Managers can analyze the data by time, store, and product.

The operating system was migrated to Windows XP embedded for deployment, saving both licensing costs and operational costs. The embedded operating system installer fits conveniently on a USB key chain drive that allows all stores to have an inexpensive backup image and installer in-house. Another online application also monitors and distributes upgraded software over the network to every kiosk in the system in off hours.

Bill Gates liked the idea enough to include it in the Windows XP launch.

Click here to view the embedded video.

My ability to communicate with engineers and visual designers in their own languages, allows me to create an environment for innovation. That approach to balanced technology & visual design has helped companies like 20th Century Fox, Sega GameWorks, Microsoft, and Virgin Entertainment create ground breaking applications to drive their businesses forward.

Peter Duke

In 1995, Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp bought Delphi Internet Services, and I was hired as Director of Design to oversee the creation of the X-Files and Fox Sports websites. The sites quickly became the most popular entertainment websites on the Internet. In 1996, I joined Steven Spielberg’s GameWorks to develop web-based location based entertainment. In 1999, after creating websites for Capitol, Angel, and Bluenote Records, I was tapped by Richard Bransen’s Virgin to direct the web development effort.

At Virgin, I bootstrapped start-up Radio Free Virgin and led design and production on a Digital Preview System that allows customers to preview 250,000 CD’s and 11,000 DVD’s in the Virgin Megastore chain. Bill Gates was impressed enough with the system to include it in the Windows XP launch event. I’ve consulted for companies like Microsoft and Sesame Street, on a variety of ideas including Enhanced Digital Television, High Definition 3D and systems to make Personal Video Recorders much smarter.

Until 2008, I was the Creative Director of Technology for the Playground Media Group, leading the Design and Development of Windows Media Video High Definition DVDs, including Step Into Liquid, and ten IMAX titles. Projects at Playground also include the design and development of media and technology for the $300MM Las Vegas Springs Preserve, re-envisioning museums in the 21st century for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in association with the American Film Institute Digital Content Lab and the design and development of in-theater video game experiences for TimePlay.

Currently, I consult for a variety of entities that vary from SMS gaming applications, a charitable foundation for the homeless, user experience strategies, and social networking applications. I am also on the board of directors for the non-profit I Am Waters, which delivers clean drinking water to America’s homeless.

My home is in Pacific Palisades, where I’m married to Sara Shuman and we have a daughter, Katie Rose.

Oh yea, I’m taking pictures again, but only for fun clients…

Timeplay came to Playground Media Group to help develop a platform and content for a video game system, designed to be deployed in movie theaters. The challenge was to come up activities that could engage an entire audience. We created and developed “Behind the Screens”, and interactive game show, where the audience could participate and win prizes that would be delivered to their seats. Playground also revised Timeplay’s business models and produced marketing materials. The “Timeplay Sizzle” below is one of collateral pieces. My role as Creative Director of Technology was to establish the business drivers, and problem definition for the visual and technical teams.

Timeplay Sizzle

Click here to view the embedded video.

Behind the Scresns Demo

The assignment was not only to create a high-definition experience, but to take full advantage of the powerful PC platform to deliver experiences that reached beyond the disc and out onto the web. The disc for the surf film Step Into Liquid, includes a full version of the video game Kelly Slater, Pro Surfer, an online surfing conditions report, location information for all of the “secret spots” in the movie provided by Google Earth, and a surfboard outfitter to help you pick out the right board. Bill Gates presented the discs at the 2005 CES keynote address.

Keyhole (Google Earth)

WMVHD Splash Screen

The challenge is to build a 21st Century virtual sport with spectator appeal. The following format for “Tetris Cup,” the World Championship of Tetris, is designed to meet that challenge while meeting a number of important business objectives. These objectives are:

• Create a spectator sport viewed and played by a large and diverse audience. People will be recognized for their skill in Tetris, and some will even become celebrities. Everyone will have fun. Crown the World Champion of Tetris.
• Tetris Cup is self sustained in the first year; break even for Blue Planet Software. Offer opportunities for sponsors and corporate partners to participate. Grow this new spectator sport into a profit generating property.
• Generate media content that appeals to an audience and that can be commercialized.
• Generate “Q-factor,” public interest, publicity, and thus drive attention not only to the Tetris Cup, but to Tetris in general.
• Generate more top of mind awareness for Tetris.
• Stimulate play, and thus sales, of Tetris across all platforms, for Blue Planet Software and for Tetris licensees. Create consumer demand for Tetris, in general, and for Tetris Cup and all elements associated with Tetris play.
• Impact a social cause, through Tetris. This may be a social cause inherently associated with Tetris – building, training and displaying thinking ability, encouraging teamwork and socialization – or it may be social causes associated with the Tetris Cup.
• Use Tetris Cup events as a platform for feedback on Tetris Cup, and Tetris in general.
• Create female celebrities and champions.

My daughters public charter school needed a website and I knew how to deliver a state-of-the-art site for next-to-nothing, at least in cash, by donating my understanding.

Marquez Charter Elementary School Website

We crafted a Web 2.0 site by combining the open source, off-the-shelf WordPress platform with a variety of other web services. We knew that by using these powerful programs, we could deliver a platform that had functionality beyond the imagination of most of the school’s sponsoring committee. So we got to work on setting up the site, eager to provide an excellent site for the 600-odd students.

What we did

The school was being considered for a “California State Distinguished School” Award, so the schedule for the creation of the site was extremely aggressive. We used the program Basecamp for project coordination, divided the responsibilities for technology, design, and content, and completed the site in 10 working days. Hosted on a grid server at Media Temple, the $20/month account provided one-click installation, storage and email capacity for the entire enterprise. This was extremely important for both cost reasons and ease-of-use reasons. When completed, the site combined the resources of various programs: 30boxes for calendaring, Feedburner for email distribution, Paypal, Cafe Press, Printfection and Amazon Associates for fund raising activities, and Google for analytics. This package delivers a huge amount of value for the public school and its 600 students.

Our results

By using third-party web applications, the school is able to deliver a tremendous amount of value to the students, parents, teachers and administrators of the school. By streamlining the communication between parents and the school, the site allows the quick transfer of information, eliminating hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper distributed by the back-pack network of students — insuring that parents receive information from the school and saving paper. By providing an up-to-the-minute information resource, parents are now enabled to stay current with the school on a variety of devices, from computers to mobile phones. By establishing a single information source for the entire school, clarity reigns supreme! And with such a low price tag, the school is happy with the outcome on all levels. It was a good challenge for us, and we are excited to continue to work with the school.