Nicolas Fortescue (Sciences)

30/07/11 13:20

Nick Fortescue's Home Page

Nick Fortescue



nick@ox.compsoc.n
Key Skills
My Key skills are in Software Engineering and Software Research. My specialties are in HCI, Algorithm design, and Security. Until recently I was working on the W3C Voice Browser standard, which combined my expertise in HCI areas with protocols and security. I have particular expertise with the Java Speech API
Programming
Fluent in ANSI C, C++, Java. Some experience of various other languages including COM, JavaScript, Perl, shell scripts, HTML, Z80 assembler, etc.
Operating Systems
Familiar with UNIX, Windows NT/95.
Languages
My French and German are both still probably at GCSE level. I was taking Japanese lessons until recently and took the Cambridge certificate in Japanese and Japanese studies.
Clean Driving License.

Education and Qualifications
1995-97
St. Edmund Hall, Oxford
1998
First Class BA Honours Degree in Mathematics in Computation. BT prize for getting top first in Computation or Mathematics and Computation in my year. Scholar of St. Edmund Hall.
1996
Classified First Class in Honour Moderations in Mathematics and Computation
1990-95
Pates Grammar School, Cheltenham
1995
A levels







 

  
 










  
 Nicolas David Fortescue 
Date of Birth:
10 January, 1977
Nationality:
British
Email address:


 

 
Work Address:
Smartspread Room 48 The Linen House 162-168 Regent Street LONDON W1R 5TB UK
 

 
 
Skills
Mathematics A
  • Further Mathematics A
  • Physics A
  • Chemistry A
    • AS levels
    • Technology B
    1993
    GCSE's
    • 10 grade A (Eng lang, Eng Lit, French, German, History, Geography, Mathematics Combined Science (2 GCSEs), Technology)
    • 1 grade B (Russian)
    Experience
    Work
    2000 to date: CTO at     SmartSpread
    1998-2000: Research Scientist at     Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd. Working in the Interaction Department
    1995,96,97: Computer Related Summer work for my sponsors (details on request)
    Programming
    In 1996,1997, and 1998 I was team manager and programmer in a team entering the     British Computer Society Programming Competition. We won in 1997 and 1998, and were fourth in 1996.
    University
    School
    While at school I worked on Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke Of Edinburgh's Awards. I was also a member of the Combined Cadet Force, reaching the rank of W.O. II, and became head of the RAF Section. I took a number of courses while in the CCF including:
    • Signals
    • Advanced Signals
    • Leadership
    Interests
    Sports
    Currently mostly Ceroc, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee and rock climbing. Occasionally Badminton, Hill Walking, Squash, roller blading. In the not too distant past Hang gliding and Ice Hockey.
    Games
    I play Go for West Surrey Go Club, and am graded at 3 kyu. I enjoy playing Bridge socially. I also like Game Theory, the mathematics of games, especially the work that has been done applying it to Go.
    Juggling
    I've recently started juggling more seriously, and can now do some three ball tricks, four balls, and three clubs. I'm working on rings at the moment.
    Travel
    I have traveled widely in the USA and Canada, and less recently France.
    Research
    At work
    • Mathematical/Computational algorithms and design
    • Dialogue Systems
    • Multimodal Interfaces
    • W3C Voice Browser standard
    At University
    • Algorithms for detecting unwanted e-mail
    • Algorithms for choosing partnerships in Go Tournaments
    • AI: Computers playing Go
    References
    References, both academic and employers are available on request. Nicolas Fortescue 1997-2000 Last modified 12 August 2000
     
     
     
     
    Interests
    Most of my spare time at the moment is spent doing fairly energetic things. When you are sitting in front of a computer all day at work you need to do some running around during the evening.
    Ceroc
    I do a lot of Ceroc. It's a sort of Modern Jive dance. I've just started taxi dancing for Ceroc guildford, which is going a long and helping beginners. I've also done a few airsteps courses with Jump 'n' Jive.
    Other sports
    I also play Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, and badminton, and go rock climbing, though not as often as I'd like to.
     
     
     
     
    Aim, Reason, Incentive
    You are currently reading this page. This means that you are either:
    1. Me, editing this page
    2. A bored undergraduate/friend/colleague trying to avoid work
    3. Someone who might be interested in employing me
    This is worrying, as I have to appear:
    1. Correct in spelling, grammar etc.
    2. Interesting and amusing
    3. Responsible, professional and intelligent
    If you want a more formal description of who I am, why not have a look at my C.V. It is guaranteed to be completely honest, though probably quite boring.
    Content, as slim as it is
    News
    I've recently left Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd and am now CTO for a new company called Smartspread. We are producing mathematical engines for initially financial applications. The company is incubated by Globeshaker.
    I had a lot of fun at Canon, but this was too good an opportunity to miss. Anyway, this will probably eventually be based in Oxford, but at the moment we're in London, and hopefully (if visa's go OK) will be spending some time with Globeshaker in the States.
    Stuff I do
    My housemates at the moment are Anne Horrobin, a GP and a fellow member of the GAP, the 20's and 30's group at my church, and Sarah Corner, another member of GAP.
    I play Go at     West Surrey Go club. Go is a great game, you ought to try it. It is originally from China, but people now play it all over the world. It is far more challenging than chess, and far more difficult for computers. I can beat any computer in the world at Go (or at least, I could 6 months ago). There are links from the Go Society's web page.
    I Juggle (thanks to Boris and Rachel), and like most adventurous sports (rock climbing, walking, abseiling, canoeing, kayaking, skiing, x-country & downhill). I hardly get to do any of this because of lack of time now. I've done a sponsored parachute jump with the Red Devils, raising 300 pounds for     Marie Curie Cancer Care. A while ago I tried Hang-Gliding, and am convinced it is the most fun sport I've tried. I probably do all this as I am scared of heights
    I am limited at the moment by time. I've gone Horse riding a couple of times with people from work. The main sports I do at the moment are Badminton,     CeRoc (french rock & roll/jive dancing), and rock climbing.
    At some point in the near future hopefully I'll join a hang gliding school and take it up again.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    My Software
    Downloadable Software
    Simple Java Speech API implementation
    This was written as research code at Canon, but they very kindly allowed me to release it for the benefit of the Java Speech community. Read the announcement or download it.
    http://www.ox.compsoc.net/users/nick/

    Other Software
    Secret Code Breaker III - Two Time Pad
    I also wrote a small amount for the cover disc of "Secret Code Breaker III", a book about cryptanalysis for kids, in the "Secret Code Breaker" series of books by Robert Reynard. Thanks for the opportunity Robert.



     
     
     
     
     
    Contacting Me
    Contacting me can be done a number of ways, including telephone, fax, email, and snail mail. However I don't want to give my home address or phone out on the web at the moment.
    Electronic mail
    I have an awful lot of computer accounts and a network of forwarding arrangements. The best address to use is:
    nickf@cre.canon.co.uk
    I read my email at work every weekday, and sometimes weekends, and you should get an almost instant response, even if it is only an acknowledgement.

    Post
    This will come to me at work. The address is:

    N. Fortescue
    Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd.
    Surrey Research Park
    Guildford
    Surrey
    GU2 5YJ
    UK
    Fax
    This is a shared fax at work so please mark items "FAO N. Fortescue". The number is +44 1483 448845

    Telephone number / Home address
    If you have a need to know these, email me and I'll probably send them to you.