Matt Barkau
RMattB Selected Works
A catalogue of programmes in classical and post-post-modern craftsmanship, performed by R. Matthew Barkau, keyboard.
- RMattB Selected Works
1. Interface Works
Preludes to visually efficient UX
1.1 Farm Information System
Circa 2026, prototype of the UX I always wanted.
Augmented Jupyter notebook ipydatagrid with React.
3-tier LLM memory system.
Python | React | ipydatagrid | Jupyter
demo video
gitlab
1.2 Multiselect widget with Usability and Accessibility
Circa 2011, predates release of Chosen widget.
Fully keyboard-navigable multiselect component for Plone/Archetypes.
Accepted to core.
Accessibility as first principle, resulting in better usability for all.
Plone | JavaScript | QUnit
demo video, mid-development
github
1.3 Shopify storefront in React
Circa 2026, web store ui targeting WCAG AAA.
Perhaps first to mathematically connect both linear perceived scale & linear perceived lightness.
Design dimensionality reduction in simultaneous service of: algorithm, math, code, usability, & accessibility.
Perhaps first to graph OKLCH contrast % vs APCA contrast %.
React | Markdown with Gherkin | QaVajs | Playwright (over Pa11y) | IBM EA | Axe-core
oklch vs apca graph
gitlab
fixing accessibility of Shopify's headless storefronts default scaffold
2. Assistive Technology
Fanfare for the common good
2.1 Free Icon-to-Speech
Circa 2008-2009, first open-source AAC app on a pocket device.
AAC (augmentative & alternative communication) speech software for people who are disabled.
Directly spurred entrepeneurs to create a market which quickly replaced a $6,000 backpack-sized system with a $200 pocket-sized system.
Python | PyGame | Espeak
olpcnews
launchpad
2.2 Gravity-controlled Joystick
Circa age 13.
Video game controller requiring no dexterity.
Fully functioning prototype.
Too dangerous for public deployment.
3. Systems & Platforms
Études for content composers
3.1 Hazard Analysis and Risk Reduction System
Mission-critical UX, life safety data.
Python | Django
Closed source working alpha, under NDA.
3.2 Captioning Request System
Tool for captioning workflow on videos.
Accessibility Working Group, Pennsylvania State University.
Python | Django
github
3.3 Enterprise Innovation Process System
Prototype built and demoed personally to Fortune 100 CEO & VPs for budget approval.
Chosen over industry incumbents.
Budget approved.
Enterprise IT R&D, John Deere.
Closed source working prototype, under NDA.
4. Lectures & Talks
Living voice, both conceptual and concrete
4.1 Tagging in More Than One Dimension
Presentation on multi-faceted categorization as a complement to hierarchical classification.
Plone Symposium East, Pennsylvania State University.
lecture video
prezi
4.2 Agile Software Development
or How Lexus replaced Cadillac in hip-hop culture
Enterprise IT conference, Pennsylvania State University.
Live vocal performance, not recorded.
5. Community & Standards
Studies in nomenclature
5.1 CommonMark Heading Standard Terminology
Proposed aligning CommonMark terminology with W3C.
Proposal adopted.
commonmark forum
5.2 SelfHealth.org
Community health sharing, platform design.
launchpad
Catalogue compiled 2026. Links are to primary artifacts when possible.
llm assistance thread