David Wood

Current

• Catalyst and Futurist, Leadership Team at Symbian Foundation

Past

• Executive Vice President at Symbian
• Software Director at Psion Software
• Software Architect at Psion

• Head of Maths Department at Ashbourne College

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1 more...

Education

• University of Cambridge
• University of Cambridge

Recommended

4 people have recommended David

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

• My Blog

David Wood’s Summary

I have spent more than 20 years envisioning, architecting, implementing, and avidly using smart mobile devices (devices that can also be called "personal electronic brains"): ten years with PDA manufacturer Psion PLC, and then ten more with smartphone operating system specialist Symbian Ltd. Since 2009 I have been part of the Leadership Team of the Symbian Foundation.

My background includes: many years building and integrating UI system software and application frameworks in 16-bit and 32-bit versions of “EPOC” software (later named “Symbian OS”); growing and directing the technical consulting teams that worked with leading phone manufacturers to create the world’s first successful smartphones; and defining and running development programs to stimulate and nurture the fast-growing Symbian partner ecosystem.

A founder director of both Psion Software and Symbian Software, I bring a measure of executive continuity to the Symbian Foundation Leadership Team.

As 'Catalyst', my role is to enable the Symbian software movement to discover and explore innovative solutions for the many challenges and opportunities faced by the mobile industry.

As 'Futurist', my task is to distil compelling visions of the future of technology, business, and society – visions that provide the energy and inspiration for deeply productive open collaboration among the many creators and users of mobile products.

I have an MA in Mathematics from Cambridge University and an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Westminster.

My first book was published in July 2005: "Symbian for software leaders - principles of successful smartphone development projects".

David Wood’s Specialties:

Leadership, Vision, Presentations, Public speaking, Writing, Collaboration, Facilitation, Large-scale software systems, Agile methods, Quality, Architecture, Object-orientation, Tools, Software efficiency, End-to-end analysis, Recruitment, Team building, Group dynamics, Fostering innovation, Motivation, Training, Change management, Ecosystem management, Smartphone value network, Asking the key question

David Wood’s Experience

• Catalyst and Futurist, Leadership Team

  Symbian Foundation

  (Computer Software industry)

  January 2009 — Present (7 months)

• Executive Vice President

  Symbian

  (Privately Held; Telecommunications industry)

  July 1998 — January 2009 (10 years 7 months)

• Software Director

  Psion Software

  (Public Company; Computer Software industry)

  June 1996 — July 1998 (2 years 2 months)

• Software Architect

  Psion

  (Public Company; Computer Software industry)

  June 1988 — June 1996 (8 years 1 month)

  During this time I worked as a software engineer, a software architect, as head of the team designing and implementing the various UIs (known as WIMP, HWIM, XWIM, HCIL, and EIKON) for numerous different Psion software systems, and as head of the build and integration team. As souvenirs from that time, I still keep some of the first working prototypes of the Psion Series 3, the Psion Series 3a, and the Psion Series 5.

• Head of Maths Department

  Ashbourne College

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Primary/Secondary Education industry)

  August 1986 — June 1988 (1 year 11 months)

David Wood’s Education

• University of Cambridge

  Philosophy of Science 1982 — 1986

  My thesis was entitled "Philosophy in the wake of quantum mechanics"

• University of Cambridge

  MA , Mathematics , 1978 — 1982

  Activities and Societies:

  Archimedeans, (President - CU Maths Society), CUSPR

Additional Information

David Wood’s Websites:

• My Blog

David Wood’s Interests:

Smartphones, AI, software, collaboration, education, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, quantum mechanics, cosmology, the multiverse, progress, evolution, history, skepticism, transhumanism, life extension, climate change, the singularity

David Wood’s Groups:

World Transhumanist Association (WTA), Royal Society for Arts (RSA), Mobile Monday London (MoMoLondon)

•    Agile Alliance
•    Humanity Plus
•    S60 Summit 2008
•    The Symbian Exchange & Exposition
•    Symbian Foundation Networking - 1500+ members & growing
•    The Futurist

David Wood’s Honors:

I served as Symbian's representative on the board of directors of the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) in 2002-2003.
I was elected as an FRSA, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, in June 2005.
I received an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Westminster in Nov 2005.

David Wood’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• new ventures
• job inquiries
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch