Joseph Zitt
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Technical Writing Sample

Joseph S. Zitt 
2210 Cedar Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
josephzitt@josephzitt.com
jzitt@metatronpress.com  
(510) 393-1956
http://www.josephzitt.com/
http://www.metatronpress.com/jzitt 

Professional Summary

  Technical writer and editor with additional extensive experience
  as a programmer, web developer, webmaster, and publisher.

  * In-depth experience using and adapting writing systems including
    Framemaker and Interleaf to develop materials for both print and
    online documentation.

  * Experience in implementing web systems for Internet and 
    intranet sites using Apache, Netscape, and DocuShare servers.

  * Experience with cross-platform development and documentation
    using HTML, XML, SGML, and other formats.

  * Skilled at learning and understanding complex systems and
    explaining them clearly to both highly technical and less
    experienced users.

  * Comprehensive experience in multiple platforms, including Linux,
    UNIX, and Windows.


Software

  FrameMaker, Interleaf, LaTeX, Quark Express, MS Word
  Apache, Netscape, Docushare web servers
  HTML, SGML, DHTML, XML, PHP, FrontPage, Javascript
  Linux, Windows, UNIX, Macintosh 
  Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, GIMP, Visio
  Perl, C, Lisp  

Professional Experience

  2/2000 to 6/2001: Web Content Developer
  Exodus Communications/GlobalCenter, Herndon, VA 
    Organized and managed Professional Services intranet Web, using 
      Perl, Apache with Server Side Includes, and shell scripts, 
      working within Linux and Windows 98. 
    Managed DocuShare document repository.
    Created scripts and procedures for extracting information from
      the DocuShare database and presenting it in HTML via XML-based
      tools. 

  3/98 to 2/2000: Staff Specialist
  Hughes Network Systems, Gaithersburg, MD 
    Webmaster for Engineering Services intranet, using Netscape servers
      on Solaris and HP-UX platforms. 
    Developed consistent structure and interface for Engineering 
      division web pages. 
    Developed methodologies for posting large amount of paper-based 
      information onto the internal web. 

  7/97 to 3/98: Programmer, IBC 
  Contract at Hughes Network Systems, Gaithersburg, MD
    Created programs in Interleaf Lisp and Perl to aid in conversion of 
      Interleaf documents to HTML. 
    Developed methods and specifications for information interchange 
      between programming and documentation teams in creating Web-
      based context-sensitive help systems. 
    Devised enhancements to Interleaf interface for increased 
      ease-of-use and productivity. 

  1/97 to 7/97: Web Designer and Researcher 
  HumanSystems, Austin, TX 
    Developed and implemented chat environment for Webcast of Tibetan 
      Freedom Concert. 
    Designed and coded Web pages for major customer sites. 
    Developed interface frameworks for graphical Internet 
      communications systems. 

  9/95 to 11/96: Programmer, Software Professionals, Inc  
  Contract at Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX 
    Created CGI scripts and HTML modules for TI Web site. 
    Wrote and maintained systems to handle user registrations and 
      information, database processing for products and users, log 
      processing and analysis, product order fulfillment, and surveys. 
    Created Perl scripts and user procedures to aid in conversion of 
      semiconductor datasheets to SGML, PostScript, and PDF formats for 
      presentation on the TI-ME Web site and on CD-ROMs. 
    Created Interleaf Lisp modules to aid users in adapting datasheets 
      in Interleaf to conversion standards. 
    Aided in the creation of the text, graphics, and organization of 
      pages on the TI-ME Web site. 

  9/94 to 9/95: Consultant, Freelance
  Austin and Dallas, TX 
    Created and maintained World Wide Web pages for local 
      organizations, using Perl programming, HTML, and graphics tools 
      to develop and organize information and images. 
    Developed Perl scripts for creating Web pages from a database of 
      text and images. 
    Created tools in Perl and C to manipulate Interleaf files under 
      OS/2 and MS-DOS for use by IBM Translation Manager. 
    Compiled and debugged Windows Help files in French, Spanish, 
      German, and English using Robohelp. 
    Coordinated and participated in hypertext exhibits and performances 
      in an OS/2 environment for an international poetry festival. 

  3/94 to 8/94: Programmer
  Romac/DP, Wilmington, DE 
    Developed standards and methods for documenting in-house 
      procedures and programs in both hypertext and hardcopy. 
    Customized filters for conversion of Interleaf files to WordPerfect
      and Microsoft Word. 
    Created programs in Interleaf Lisp to assure that documents 
      conformed to government standards. 

  3/93 to 3/94: Consultant 
  Austin, TX, and Verona, NJ 
    Created Visual Basic text and hypertext display systems. 
    Wrote and presented hypertext-based theater presentations. 
    Performed technical edits on documentation for X Window System 
      programming. 

  11/92 to 2/93: Software Engineer
  InfoEdge Technology, Austin, TX 
    Customized text manipulation and graphics display software in 
      Visual Basic. 
    Customized and converted textbases using C, awk, and Visual Basic. 
    Provided technical support for legal software. 

  9/90 to 8/92: Programmer/Writer
  Analysts International Corporation, Austin, TX 
    Created programs in C, awk, and Interleaf Lisp to locate and 
      manipulate information within large groups of documents to 
      increase writer productivity and accuracy. 
    Wrote and edited documentation for AIX end-user and system 
      software, including AIXwindows functions and hypertext 
      development and delivery systems. 
    Produced a training video on indexing techniques for technical 
      writers. 
    Created programs to translate documents from TeX and nroff format 
      to Interleaf. 

  6/89 to 6/90: Technical Writer
  Pencom Systems, Inc., Austin, TX 
    Wrote hypertext and print documentation for AIX end users and 
      programmers.  
    Created shell scripts to verify hypertext links in Interleaf files. 

  1/89 to 6/89: Independent Consultant, New York, NY 
    Designed and implemented automatic product catalog creation and 
      maintenance system. 
    Organized and installed uniform software library for a non-profit 
      organization. 

  4/86 to 12/88: Technical Writer
  WorldWide Data, NY, NY, and Tel Aviv, Israel 
    Wrote user and reference manuals for UNIX and DOS software. 
    Provided technical support and testing for code-generation and 
      antiviral software. 

  7/84 to 3/86: Technical Writer
  Health Information Systems, Brooklyn, NY 
    Wrote user manuals for hospital financial information systems. 
    Developed systems and procedures for transferring information and 
      images between IBM mainframes and PCs. 
    Developed and documented procedures for information gathering and 
      document creation. 

  1/82 to 7/84: Computer Operator
  Kidder, Peabody and Co., NY, NY 
    Implemented and documented operator procedures and utilities for 
      Tandem and DEC systems. 
    Co-designed and operated in-house bulletin board system. 

Additional Experience

  1/1991 to present: Editor and Designer
  Metatron Press, Austin, TX, Washington, DC, and Toms River, NJ
    Created and designed original paperback books including
      "Surprise Me with Beauty: the Music of Human Systems"
        (ISBN: 963-3953-0-0) and
      "Shekhinah: the Presence" (ISBN: 0-963-3953-1-9).
    Recorded, co-produced, and designed CD "(voices)" by Comma.
    Created, designed, and maintains website at 
      http://www.metatronpress.com/ including multimedia archives
      and ongoing event announcements.
    Created performance video for Real Video presentation at 
      http://www.poetryvideo.com/ 
    Record, edit, and encode audio for RealAudio and MP3
      streaming and downloads.
    Created and manage "Silence" Internet mailing list and digest 
      on the music of John Cage.
    Created theatrical and musical events featuring Metatron Press
      artists.
    Designed interface for unreleased CD-ROM project in
      Macromedia Director.
    Developed Java modules for worldwide Internet interactive
      music performance system.
    Toured and led workshops around the US on Human Systems music
      and performance.  

Sample URLs
  http://www.josephzitt.com/
  http://www.metatronpress.com 
  http://www.metatronpress.com/comma/cd/
  http://www.datawranglers.com/qat/ 

References available on request

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