Eric Blue

Eric Blue

Technologist, Entrepreneur and Creative

About Me

With over 25 years of experience as an innovative technologist, I’ve honed a diverse skill set across industries ranging from dynamic startups to Fortune 500 companies.

My expertise lies at the intersection of technology and health, where I’ve specialized in Wearables and Mobile Health. Since 2022, I’ve been deeply engaged with AI and large language models (LLMs), uncovering new ways to drive creativity and innovation.

Throughout my career, I’ve led engineering and operations teams, seamlessly blending strategic vision with hands-on execution. Whether in a director-level role managing cross-functional teams or as a lead developer driving critical projects, my broad technical background—from enterprise architecture to network engineering—has been instrumental in orchestrating complex, multi-organizational technical integrations.

But I’m more than just a technologist. I’m a mentor, a project manager, and a visionary, ready to bring your next project to life—whether from the leadership table or directly within the codebase.

Skills & Expertise

Core Competencies

Development & Engineering

  • Java
  • Spring Boot
  • Micronaut
  • JavaScript
  • Node.js
  • Next.js
  • React
  • Python
  • Perl
  • REST API

GenAI / LLM

  • Langchain (Python)
  • Langchain4j (Java)
  • Local LLMs
  • GPT Vision
  • OpenAI APIs
  • Vector Databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, etc.)
  • RAG

Data & Database Management

  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL
  • MongoDB
  • SQL
  • Data Architecture

Cloud & DevOps

  • AWS & Google Cloud
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • CI/CD
  • DevOps
  • Linux

Security & Compliance

  • Security Engineering
  • Authentication & Authorization
  • Risk & Compliance (PCI)

Project & Product Management

  • Agile & Scrum
  • Roadmapping & Strategy
  • Team Leadership
  • Technical Writing

Specializations

  • Senior Engineering Manager
  • Technical Product Manager
  • Full-Stack Developer
  • Software Architect
  • Data Engineer
  • Cloud Migrations
  • Project Manager
  • Security Expert
  • DevOps Engineer

Industry Experience

  • Enterprise Software & SaaS
  • Cybersecurity
  • Fitness & Wellness
  • Government / Defense
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Retail & Telecom

Principal Consultant


Owner and principal consultant at UpwardBit Ventures, partnering with companies to deliver expertise in tech consulting, innovation, and digital transformation. Our strengths lie in software development, product management, enterprise architecture, and cloud migrations. We work with clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies across industries like telecommunications, healthcare, retail, and defense.
2017 - Present

CEO & Founder


Founder and technical lead where I led the development of a powerful health and fitness data platform. I architected and implemented a scalable SaaS solution, integrating wearable data from multiple sources to deliver comprehensive analytics and customizable dashboards. My focus was on driving innovation and ensuring that our platform empowers users to make data-driven decisions for improved health and performance.
2014 - Present

Director - Architecture, R&D

Director - Systems Development, Lead Dev


Engineering leader managing cross-functional teams in driving technical innovation and system architecture. Lead developer (Java, Perl, C) from 2001-2007. Director of Systems Development, then Architecture / R&D overseeing multiple development teams, contributing to the company's successful IPO in 2011. Co-authored a patent for dynamic wireless network discovery (System, method and apparatus for dynamic wireless network discovery - US 8,831,660)
2001 - 2013

Areas of Expertise

Lead Software Engineer / Architect

I design and develop scalable web-based applications. My expertise includes building SaaS products, enterprise systems, and robust backend architectures. I focus on delivering high-performance, secure, and maintainable software solutions. Java/Spring (primary) and Python, Node / Next.js, React, Perl, and other tech stacks.

Engineering Manager

I lead engineering teams through all stages of development, ensuring projects are delivered on time and meet both technical and business objectives. My experience spans managing cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments, with a strong emphasis on maintaining high availability and performance in mission-critical systems.

Technical Product / Project Manager

I specialize in driving product development from concept to launch, with a strong foundation in Agile and Scrum methodologies. My approach ensures that technical solutions align with business goals, resulting in innovative products that meet market needs and exceed customer expectations. I have successfully managed projects involving cloud migrations, MVP development, and large-scale application deployments.

Projects

National Security Hackathon - Knowledge Graph + LLMs

2024
https://devpost.com/software/digital-desperados

The National Security Hackathon for Defense in San Francisco brought together over 500 participants across 64 teams, all tasked with addressing complex challenges in next-generation intelligence analysis, drones, computer vision, and AI, including GPT and LLMs. We focused on a significant problem: processing and extracting actionable intelligence from the overwhelming amount of unstructured data generated daily—approximately 300 million terabytes. Our solution aimed to transform this information overload into strategic insights by developing a sophisticated data pipeline.

Leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and a graph database, we built a system that extracted key entities from diverse data sources, such as unclassified military briefs, social media feeds, and global news outlets. These entities were used to construct a deep knowledge graph that provided insights into the relationships between people, places, events, and outcomes. Additionally, our solution featured capabilities for chat-based Q&A on the knowledge graph and summarization of intelligence over time.

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, OpenAI, Python, Neo4j

Moonshot Labs

2020-2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtTwholuRA

Consulted through NGA’s Moonshot Labs (an unclassified innovation hub and collider space for NGA). Technical Program Manager (engineering, product, tech lead/architect) for a 12 person team successfully delivered 4 major projects/products over the course of 2+ years.

This included development of scalable architectures in support of geospatial data analysis, web-based tools for operations/executive use, and large-scale microservice-based architectures, APIs and web-based tools for mission stakeholders.

Agile team and product lead, however providing hands on assistance where needed for cloud migrations, security assessments and product launches

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, OpenAI, Python, Node, React, OpenShift, Kubernetes, Docker

Art Analyzer - GPT Vision and LLM

2023
https://eric-blue.com/2023/12/05/art-analyzer/

I wanted to see how quickly and effectively GPT-4V (gpt-4-1106-vision-preview) could analyze artwork given an uploaded image. I primarily wanted to do this for experimenting with my own artwork, but also interested in discovering what type of critique and feedback it would give on famous artist’s work.

This project was written in Python, uses Steamlit and integrates with OpenAI. I’d also done some early evals of LLaVa on HuggingFace.

Tech Stack: OpenAI, Python, Docker

Harley-Davidson Ride Planner

2017-2022
https://maps.harley-davidson.com/

In 2017, working through another lead consultancy (team size 15), I took on the role of technical lead (architect, BE developer). Harley-Davidson was looking to develop a new version of the web-based rideplanner app, and launch new iOS and Android apps.

Developed new codebase (Java/Spring Boot) and APIs for all backend systems

Migrated infrastructure originally from Pivotal Cloud, to PCF, and then ultimately spearheaded the migration to AWS/Kubernetes resulting in significant scaling and cost reduction

Original Technical Challenge - Offering social challenges, leaderboards, rewards. Evaluated multiple cloud-based solutions, and with a highly compressed timeframe ultimately designed and developed our own in house solutions - new social+leaderboard backend systems, APIs, admin tools and mobile integration

Design and built admin/operations/marketing support tools for location-based marketing and notifications

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, Node, React, OpenShift, Kubernetes, Docker

ActiveOS - Mindstream

2016
https://activeos.com/case-studies-sgu-mindstream/

In mid-2016, Ian V.J. Murray, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience at St. George University approached ActiveOS with a funded research project that needed to steam, capture and analyze brainwave data utilizing a Neurosky EEG sensor.

No software on the market currently offered real-time streaming of concurrent EEG headsets via Bluetooth and no easy way to save this data to the cloud for performing historical storage and analysis of attention and various brainwave states.

In parallel with building the client technology, named MindStream, ActiveOS created an extension to the Enterprise Platform product for streaming and saving real-time EEG (thousands of records per second) and other biometric data.

  • Added ability to simultaneously stream up to 6-8 EEG headsets using a custom bluetooth integration

  • Integrated EEG data streaming using a combo local interface (windows, mac) and cloud-based streaming (ActiveoS+Vert.x)

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, Node, Bootstrap, JQuery

ActiveOS - Porsche - Art of the Thrill

2014
https://activeos.com/case-studies-porsche

Porsche + The Atlantic + ActiveOS (branded then as TRAQS) + Hexoskin to launch the new Porsche Macan in late 2014. ActiveOS powered the event with our Enterprise Platform, aggregating biometric and location data of car drivers and producing a highly-interactive touch screen dashboard on a 66” TV at the event. The video and featured story at The Atlantic was used for the Porsche Macan marketing campaign.

  • Integrated with Hexoskin smart shirt, high-performance GPS trackers used by professional race car drivers

  • Worked with Porsche and The Atlantic on the concept, design, development and ideation for the marketing campaign launch

  • Live event in Chicago with 40+ notable personalities (exclusive invite) to drive Porsches and driven by professional race car drivers - visualizing heart rate, breathing and GPS data

  • Data processed and streamed at the event on an interactive touch screen TV

  • Official Atlantic + Porsche marketing video at https://vimeo.com/111218997

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, Node, Bootstrap, JQuery

ActiveOS - Platform

Founded 2014
https://activeos.com/

ActiveOS, a cloud-based wearable and geolocation data platform, partnering with global sensor companies and developing products for customers spanning the health & fitness industry, academia and research. This started out as a number of open source projects in the early days of wearables and morphed into a commercial product - our 1st major customer was Porsche in partnership with Hexoskin (smart shirt company)

This was my company - founder, ceo and primary developer for the majority of the platform

  • Architected cloud-based architecture for wearable data integration

  • Created plugin framework+SDK for all wearable integrations (OAuth2 - Fitbit, Garmin, Withings, etc.)

  • Developed all backend systems and front-end apps (Java/Spring, Perl)

  • Created a JavaScript-based framework for wearable data charts+visualizations

  • Developed all FE Dashboards and team portals (BootStrap, JQuery, Node.js)

Tech Stack: Java, Spring, Perl, Node, Bootstrap, JQuery

Open Source

My open-source work spans a wide range of tech areas, from home automation and IoT to the Quantified Self movement and the latest in GenAI and LLMs. I've tackled projects across these domains, combining innovation with practical solutions. Whether it's integrating AI into everyday tools, building systems to enhance personal well-being, or exploring large language models, my work reflects deep curiosity and a hands-on approach.

I've worked with various programming languages—Java, Python, Perl, React, and Node.js—to get the job done. Each project has been an opportunity to experiment, learn, and contribute something meaningful to the developer community, showcasing the versatility and impact of my work.

Github: https://github.com/ericblue

Cited Works


Beginning in 2004, I embarked on a journey of publishing articles on my blog, which over the past 20 years has grown into a substantial collection of work. This writing, along with various open source work, has been referenced in 26 citations across universities and organizations in 11 countries, spanning books, theses, research papers, art exhibits, and global research projects. Covering diverse topics such as the Quantified Self, Knowledge Management, Mind Mapping, EEG, and more, these contributions—encompassing open-source projects and personal writings—demonstrate the impact and reach of my efforts across multiple fields. A comprehensive collection of these citations and references can be explored in the following repository.

Github: https://github.com/ericblue/my-cited-works

Contact

You can contact me via the form below or through the following platforms: