Making Things Click.

A portfolio of digital experiences that transform how we play, explore, and understand.

2011–2026

Linguabase

Linguabase is a semantic graph that maps how English words relate across all their meanings — not just synonyms, but association, etymology, categorization, and sense. 400,000 deployed terms drawn from an internal corpus of 1.8 million, connected by 63 million weighted, sense-disambiguated relationships. Built over fifteen years from 70+ lexical sources, professional lexicography, classical NLP, and 130 million LLM inferences. Now operated as a word game data studio supplying puzzle content to studios in the word-association space.

In Other Words

In Other Words is a daily word game where players chart paths between seemingly unrelated words through chains of meaning, not spelling. Each puzzle has multiple elegant three-step solutions, and players must reach their target within seven steps. Powered by Linguabase.

OtherWordly

OtherWordly is a space-adventure word game where players launch words through a cosmic obstacle course to match partially hidden targets. Its blend of physics puzzles and cultural content — from Picasso to penguins — earned recognition from IndiePrize, TIGA, and Serious Play. Being retooled for commercial launch.

2006–2012

SpicyNodes

SpicyNodes made complex hierarchies accessible through organic, radial visualization. Users could pivot and expand nodes naturally, making information structures clear and explorable. Reached 315,000 creators and 40 million users. Evolved into WikiNodes, an Apple-featured iPad app for exploring Wikipedia. Published in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. The concept-visualizer that led into the idea-linking games.

1998–2001

Time.gov

While at NIST, I took obscure Windows 95 software buried deep in the lab and turned it into Time.gov — a public-friendly government service and the first single-purpose .gov site. Convinced rival lab chiefs at NIST and Naval Observatory to cooperate. Made atomic clock precision as simple as clicking your location on a map. Quickly became NIST’s most visited property.

1999–2006

WebExhibits

WebExhibits was a new kind of virtual museum. Visitors could explore the science of color, decode ancient calendars, examine paintings through X-ray and infrared scans, or craft classical poetry using interactive guides. Built up over the years with funding from the National Science Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities. Drew tens of millions of visitors.

2002-2005

Making Medical AI Human

ProstateCalculator turned an academic research tool — previously shared as downloadable software between specialists — into one of the first medical AI interfaces designed for everyone. A neural network trained on over 10,000 clinical cases that helped 1.5 million patients understand their cancer risk. Built in 2001, years before “AI in healthcare” was a phrase anyone used.

2003-2007

Native Voices in Healthcare

Collaborated with Native American cancer educators to help women navigate healthcare barriers. Working with Native elders, developed a storytelling-centered website using tree and leaf navigation, transforming VHS tapes and pamphlets into interactive multimedia learning content. Directed local theater actors in role-play scenarios and created an “I-message” audio sequencer where women could practice advocating for themselves with doctors.

2011-2013

Color in Three Dimensions

ColoRotate reinvented color selection by letting designers work in 3D space. Available as both an iPad app and Photoshop plugin. Designers could manipulate palettes with natural gestures, visualize relationships spatially, and preview colorblind perspectives.

2011

Instant Pop Art

Popstamatic turned smartphone photos into Warhol-style Pop Art with a single tap. Pioneered instant artistic filters years before they became common.

Client Projects

2014

The past, perfectly present

Home for History transformed AASLH into a digital community hub where history professionals share practical resources through focused blogs and educational content.