John Carlsen provides consulting and contracted electronics and software research and development services as Syncopated Systems, bringing technologies long used in video games such as artificial intelligence (AI), cross-platform software development, and user interface (UI) design to other new media, consumer products, business systems, industrial automation, transportation, and robotics.

Mr. Carlsen began advertising online in 1985, provided technical support at Atari in 1987, contributed to the development of early customer-facing point-of-sale terminals and mobile robots for Atari’s founder in 1989, worked for Activision during its leveraged buyout in 1991, co-founded video game developer Iguana Entertainment and moved with it to Austin, Texas in 1993, reverse-engineered the Sony PlayStation in 1995, taught game development as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science in 2009, and developed a miniature PlayStation for Sony in 2011.

Extending his attention to other new media, Mr. Carlsen in 1991 supervised the first pressing of Microsoft Windows onto CD-ROM and in 2001 redefined the user interface of flash-based MP3 players and created a reference design used to create more than 70% of them, including the first Apple iPod Shuffle.

Also in 2001, Mr. Carlsen budgeted and designed the power supply subsystem of the first computer with the x86-64 architecture found in most desktop and laptop computers today.

Mr. Carlsen is an IEEE Senior Member, and a CNSV Director. He was CNSV Chair in 2023-2024 and CNSV Vice Chair in 2022. He was Vice Chair of the IEEE Central Texas Consultants’ Network (CTCN) before returning to California at the end of 2009, and was active in southern California’s Foothill Section circa 2015.

Mr. Carlsen has earned seven degrees in areas including computer science, technical communication, accounting, business administration, and management. Mr. Carlsen is a licensed pilot and has significant additional training in emergency response (FEMA certifications and first aid) and ballroom dancing.

Also see my CNSV Board of Directors profile…