In addition to our fun facts about new staff story each month, we also feature our long-time co-workers. This month we’re featuring:
Erastus Allen, Product Manager – Machine Learning
How did you get into the industry?
My first work with Artificial Intelligence was circa 2001 as a programmer for NeuralWare, a company that made early neural network development tools. I have always enjoyed helping people use technology. Health care and technology are both deep fields and, as such, the combination affords many opportunities to continue learning. I think people tend to be happy when they continue to learn.
How long have you been working at UPMCE?
Three years. However, I’ve worked for UPMC for almost 16 years. I started at UPMC/WPIC before I had finished undergrad and I continued working at UPMC after graduate school. Most of that time, I worked supporting research IT infrastructure and writing software for research-oriented databases at WPIC. This even involved ‘suiting up’ to work on systems in sensitive lab areas! (see image). Then, I worked at UPMC Health Plan developing machine learning algorithms for marketing before coming to UPMC Enterprises.
Thinking about your work, what is something you used to use tech-wise that you don’t use anymore?
Floppy disks, CD-ROMs, even now USB drives, cameras, and music-playing devices (Walkman, iPod, etc.) Phones do all of that and all data is in the cloud. By the way, you can see a Philips LM4000 worm drive on display at my cube. It looks like someone grew a 3.5” floppy disk ten times bigger and stuck a laserdisc in it.
As technology has evolved throughout the years, what stands out to you the most?
One interesting aspect of how technology has evolved is that there are relatively few recent fundamental innovations in how software, hardware, and networks work. Today’s exciting advances in areas like AI are mainly due to just having ever-smaller transistors.
What’s your favorite part about working here?
Amazing colleagues – many of whom are at the top of their fields in medicine and tech. They keep me inspired and learning, and that makes me happy.
Do you have an unusual talent or hobby?
Harmonic/throat singing.
