Cem Kaner
Encyclopedia
Cem Kaner J.D.
, Ph.D.
, is a Professor
of Software Engineering
at Florida Institute of Technology
, and the Director of Florida Tech's Center for Software Testing Education & Research (CSTER) since 2004. He is perhaps best known outside academia as an advocate of software usability and software testing
.
Prior to his professorship, Kaner worked in the software industry beginning in 1983 in Silicon Valley
"as a tester, programmer, tech writer, software development manager, product development director, and independent software development consultant." In 1988, he and his co-authors Jack Falk and Hung Quoc Nguyen published what became, at the time, "the best selling book on software testing," Testing Computer Software. He has also worked as a user interface
designer.
In 2004 he cofounded the non-profit Association for Software Testing
, where he serves as the Vice-President for Publications.
from Brock University
in 1974, having focused on mathematics and philosophy. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in experimental psychology
from McMaster University
in 1984, with a dissertation in the area of psychophysics
(the measurement of perceptual experiences). He later attended Golden Gate University
Law School, with a primary interest in the law of software quality, graduating with a J.D. in 1994.
, California Department of Consumer Affairs
, investigating and mediating consumer complaints. In the 1990s, he got trial experience working as a full-time volunteer Deputy District Attorney
, and later counselled independent consultants, technical book writers, and independent test labs on contract and intellectual property
issues as an attorney. He also did legislative work as a consumer protection
advocate, including participation in the drafting of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act
(as an advocate for customers and small software development firms), and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
, and he participated in the United States Department of State
's Advisory Committee on Private International Law: Study Group on Electronic Commerce. In 1999, he was elected to the American Law Institute
, after being in practice for only five years.
This experience led him, in collaboration with David Pels, to publish Bad Software: What To Do When Software Fails in 1997. This book was intended "to help people who had bought a defective computer program, with advice on troubleshooting their own problems, interacting with technical support, reporting problems to consumer protection agencies, bringing a lawsuit in small claims court
, and if necessary, hiring a lawyer to bring a formal lawsuit."
, Northern California Technical Publications Competition.) ISBN 0-471-08112-4 |isbn=0471081124}}
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, is a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Software Engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
at Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...
, and the Director of Florida Tech's Center for Software Testing Education & Research (CSTER) since 2004. He is perhaps best known outside academia as an advocate of software usability and software testing
Software testing
Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
.
Prior to his professorship, Kaner worked in the software industry beginning in 1983 in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
"as a tester, programmer, tech writer, software development manager, product development director, and independent software development consultant." In 1988, he and his co-authors Jack Falk and Hung Quoc Nguyen published what became, at the time, "the best selling book on software testing," Testing Computer Software. He has also worked as a user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
designer.
In 2004 he cofounded the non-profit Association for Software Testing
Association for Software Testing
The Association for Software Testing, commonly referred to as the AST, is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the science and practice of software testing according to . ASTs membership consists of scholars, students and practitioners who are interested in the advancement of the field of...
, where he serves as the Vice-President for Publications.
Education
Kaner received a Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in 1974, having focused on mathematics and philosophy. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1984, with a dissertation in the area of psychophysics
Psychophysics
Psychophysics quantitatively investigates the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they effect. Psychophysics has been described as "the scientific study of the relation between stimulus and sensation" or, more completely, as "the analysis of perceptual...
(the measurement of perceptual experiences). He later attended Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
Law School, with a primary interest in the law of software quality, graduating with a J.D. in 1994.
Consumer and Software Quality Advocacy
Kaner worked as a part-time volunteer for the Santa ClaraSanta Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
, California Department of Consumer Affairs
California Department of Consumer Affairs
The California Department of Consumer Affairs is a department under the California State and Consumer Services Agency. DCA's stated mission is to serve the interests of California's consumers by ensuring a standard of professionalism in key industries and promoting informed consumer practices...
, investigating and mediating consumer complaints. In the 1990s, he got trial experience working as a full-time volunteer Deputy District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, and later counselled independent consultants, technical book writers, and independent test labs on contract and intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
issues as an attorney. He also did legislative work as a consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
advocate, including participation in the drafting of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act
Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act
Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act was an attempt to introduce a Uniform Act for US States to follow. As a model law, it only specifies a set of guidelines, and each of the States should decide if to pass it or not, separately. UCITA has been drafted by National Conference of...
(as an advocate for customers and small software development firms), and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is one of the several United States Uniform Acts proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws . Since then 47 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted it into their own laws...
, and he participated in the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
's Advisory Committee on Private International Law: Study Group on Electronic Commerce. In 1999, he was elected to the American Law Institute
American Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
, after being in practice for only five years.
This experience led him, in collaboration with David Pels, to publish Bad Software: What To Do When Software Fails in 1997. This book was intended "to help people who had bought a defective computer program, with advice on troubleshooting their own problems, interacting with technical support, reporting problems to consumer protection agencies, bringing a lawsuit in small claims court
Small claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...
, and if necessary, hiring a lawyer to bring a formal lawsuit."
Publications
- Note: a more exhaustive list is available on Kaner's own site.
Books
(Received the Award of Excellence from the Society for Technical CommunicationSociety for Technical Communication
The Society for Technical Communication is a professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication.-Overview:...
, Northern California Technical Publications Competition.) ISBN 0-471-08112-4 |isbn=0471081124}}
External links
- Official Cem Kaner homepage
- Official blog "On the craft and community of software testing"
- Alienware sucks blog "Another tale of woe from someone who bought an Alienware computer." (June to July 2005)
- Center for Software Testing Education & Research at Florida Tech
- FIT Faculty Profile