Bitstream Software - About Paul

About Paul by Paul:

Hello everybody, this is your favourite visual developer speaking. I actually invented the title 'visual developer' because my jobs for Bitstream are too long to list all the time. I design the EyeBrowse interface, design the graphics (programs and website), promote EyeBrowse and run this website. So that title was the best I could come up with. I take great pride in all things presentation - the interface and website must look good and still function properly. Without me, you would probably have never bothered downloading EyeBrowse, as Kris does not have the time to create a whole website such as this when he is busy programming.

About me you ask? Ok, my name is Paul Wolfenden, I was born in Stockport, Cheshire, and currently reside in Exeter, Devon. I am 18 years old and a full-time student of Exeter College, where I study Photography, English Language and Information Technology at A Level. For the seven years before coming to college I lived in Portugal, where I attended The International School of the Algarve. Had enough? I think so, we don't want you going in a hurry do we?

My (blatantly obvious) love of computers could be classed as obsessive. It stems from the 80's, when I got my first proper computer, the Sinclair Spectrum +2. Oh how I loved that computer. My next proper computer was an Amiga 1200, which led me to become a devoted Amiga follower for about 2 years. At least until I got my first PC in 1995, an Escom Pentium 60. That changed my views forever. Since then, I have become more and more involved with all things PC, even more so now I have my new AMD K6-2 333 PC that I built myself. I cannot live long without my computer, it is a part of me. How many of you think that I am a bit sad? All of you, very well.

My main computer interests are with graphics (logos, 3D landscapes, fractals etc), websites, music and the odd game or two. Other interests include photography. And nothing else. Oh dear. Nevermind I am happy. I love cycling too but don't have a bike over here (it stays over in Portugal), so I don't cycle much.

My involvement with Bitstream began while Kris was still working on the early original betas of Image Browser (now EyeBrowse). I suggested I could design a few graphics for the program, and make a new interface and he agreed to let me. From then on I began doing more and more until we became equal partners, each handling as much responsibility as the other. Like Kris, I would like nothing more* than to forget everything else in life and work on Bitstream all the time.

My future plans are to go to university and study Information Technology. It is what I am best at, although that isn't saying much. When Kris and I are at different universities, I believe Bitstream will continue. Our interaction already exists 99.62% through the use of e-mail and phone calls so it wouldn't be too difficult.

That's me (almost) done. For my work with Bitstream, I would like to thank my girlfriend Donna for doing her best to put up with my Bitstream obsessions, my good friend Kristan for being a good programmer, my hamster Spadge for being so cute, my friend David for not bothering to do his job as a beta tester, my computer for giving me such eternal joy and the sleepless nights, my hi-fi (and the Smashing Pumpkins) for keeping me entertained all these hours, all the freeware sites who have listed us, the users for keeping me bothering, my microwave for providing me with adequate food to live and my parents for financing my life in England. I think that is just about all. You may now breathe again.

-Visual Developer Paul Wolfenden

*Except to spend time with my girlfriend, Donna (just in case she is reading)

About Paul by Kris:

A few months ago, little did I know how powerful the combination of my programming and Paul's visual development and webmastering could be. We seem to be able to bounce ideas off each other and please each other just as much as we want to please everyone else. Paul's job description is at times unclear, but whatever he does it's certainly important. I have a feeling I don't see half of what he does as I usually only see byproducts of what he's done, like loads of hits to our websites, or a newletter going out to several hundred people. I don't see the masses of website and graphic designs he abandons or implements. What I do see is usually something that I like, and if I say I don't like it, he'll go away and work and work until I'm happy, at the same time he's giving loads of feedback on the beta software I send him - this is how we suceed!

Paul's talent for graphic design, webmastering, promotion, ideas and everything visual is the key to Bitstream and it's support.

-Programmer Kristan Dyson