Brian Rider
Encyclopedia
Brian Rider is an American computer scientist
, information architect and businessman. He is the founder of Digital Wingman located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. Rider started Digital Wingman from his freshman dorm room at Grand Valley State University
in 2006.. Rider founded Techtivity.org as a means to help provide technology resources and creative education to undeserved youth.
. While at Grand Valley, Rider formed the idea of what would later become a data visualization company called Digital Wingman. The company, Digital Wingman, provides colleges, universities, and off-campus housing companies with professional renderings of room and apartment layouts, animation services, and dynamic web applications. Digital Wingman introduced photo-realistic 3D floorplans to the College and University market, most prominent example is Boston College's Department of Housing. Rider was selected as a winner for the StartupNation 2008 Dorm Based 20 which was featured on MSN and The Wall Street Journal. As a computer science major, he modeled the tables and chairs in his room, using the same modeling software that Pixar
uses for its films, such as Toy Story
, Finding Nemo
and The Incredibles
. Rider taught himself how to use the program and eventually modeled all of the Hills Living Center.. Rider credits his success in learning beyond the classroom to his mentor Jeff Bennett for his business advice and guidance.
. Techtivity provides technology services to programs in Burundi
and hosts camps in the summer at the Steil Boys & Girls Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
, information architect and businessman. He is the founder of Digital Wingman located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. Rider started Digital Wingman from his freshman dorm room at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in 2006.. Rider founded Techtivity.org as a means to help provide technology resources and creative education to undeserved youth.
Education and Business
Rider attended Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
. While at Grand Valley, Rider formed the idea of what would later become a data visualization company called Digital Wingman. The company, Digital Wingman, provides colleges, universities, and off-campus housing companies with professional renderings of room and apartment layouts, animation services, and dynamic web applications. Digital Wingman introduced photo-realistic 3D floorplans to the College and University market, most prominent example is Boston College's Department of Housing. Rider was selected as a winner for the StartupNation 2008 Dorm Based 20 which was featured on MSN and The Wall Street Journal. As a computer science major, he modeled the tables and chairs in his room, using the same modeling software that Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
uses for its films, such as Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
, Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is a 2003 American comi-drama animated film written by Andrew Stanton, directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich and produced by Pixar. It tells the story of the overly protective clownfish Marlin who, along with a regal tang called Dory , searches for his abducted son Nemo...
and The Incredibles
The Incredibles
The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated action-comedy superhero film about a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers. It was written and directed by Brad Bird, a former director and executive consultant of The Simpsons, and was produced by Pixar and distributed by...
. Rider taught himself how to use the program and eventually modeled all of the Hills Living Center.. Rider credits his success in learning beyond the classroom to his mentor Jeff Bennett for his business advice and guidance.
Foundation
In early 2007, Rider created a foundation called Techtivity.org. This foundation provides technology resources and creative education for underserved youth in a effort to reduce the digital divideDigital divide
The Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...
. Techtivity provides technology services to programs in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and hosts camps in the summer at the Steil Boys & Girls Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan.