The Spotlight is on Michael Morrison The author of our Java and Web Scripting questions.

RN: Please tell us a little about yourself.

Michael: I am a writer, developer, toy inventor, and generally creative person. Technology has been a big interest of mine from an early age, when I realized how technology can enable you to do so many interesting things. From model rockets, movie making, R/C race cars, and computers, I learned that there is a lot of fun to be had thanks to technology. As computers began to be taken seriously in the business world, I realized I could actually make a career out of my interests. Moving quickly from full-time software developer to full-time writer, I found a way to explore the ins and outs of new technologies and actually make a living doing it - go figure! Just in case it sounds like I’m a one-dimensional nerd, I am. No, I’m actually a relatively serious athlete and stay busy skateboarding, cycling, and playing hockey and tennis. I’m also the creative lead at Gas Hound Games, a traditional toy and game company that recently released Inc. The Game of Business, a financial board game - check it out at www.incthegame.com.

RN: What interested you in writing ReviewNet tests?

Michael: My interest in writing ReviewNet tests arose from my own experiences ininterviewing for jobs. I noticed that the primary concern shared by most companies is whether a candidate's skills really match up with the claims made on their resume. ReviewNet provides a great way for a company to assess the skill level of a candidate in an objective, unconfrontational manner, and ultimately feel confident about making successful hiring decisions.

RN: Outside of working with ReviewNet, what do you feel is your biggest professional accomplishment?

Michael: This might seem surprising, but I consider my biggest professionalaccomplishment to be the design and development of a traditional board game titled Inc. The Game of Business (www.incthegame.com). It’s very rare to dream up something entirely in your head and actually follow through with it from start to finish. I worked on the game over a period of two years, and spent a great deal of creative energy taking it from a “wouldn’t it be neat” stage through production and marketing. For a person immersed in technology on a daily basis, it is a refreshing change of pace to be so heavily involved in such a retro project.

RN: Tell us about your latest book. ?

Michael: My latest book is XML Unleashed, which explores many facets of theexciting XML technology. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a structured markup language that is considered by many (including myself) to be the future of the Internet. XML takes a significant leap past HTML by adding context to content, which means that search engines will be able to distinguish between Mars the planet and Mars the candy bar, even when the search string is simply “Mars”. XML Unleashed is the most comprehensive book available on XML, starting from the basics and proceeding on to practical XML applications such as 3D virtual worlds, human resource postings, and voice response systems, to name a few.

RN: How do you keep up with changing technologies and the latest trends in the IT industry?

Michael: The Internet is clearly the hands-down best resource available to ITprofessionals when it comes to keeping up with new trends. In fact, it is often the only resource for those of us that teeter on the cutting edge. I certainly also read my share of books too. In fact, it's kind of strange how you must read significantly more than you write in order to be successful as a writer, at least when it comes to technical writing. This rule certainly also applies to successful software developers.

RN: Tell us about your ReviewNet test.

Michael: My ReviewNet tests tackle two of the most important technologies for Webdevelopment: Java and Web scripting. The Java test focuses primarily on the core Java technology, which involves the fundamentals of the Java programming language. The Web scripting test addresses both VBScript, JavaScript, and general Web scripting skills that apply to both scripting languages.

RN: How did you design your ReviewNet test to help eliminate IT hiring mistakes?

Michael: To help eliminate IT hiring mistakes, I tried to structure my ReviewNettests so that they included as many practical scenarios as possible. In other words, I felt that it was important to try and simulate real world problems that IT professionals find themselves having to solve. It's equally important for a test to ascertain the proficiency of a candidate and establish a baseline of skills, so I tried hard to accomplish that as well.