Previously he was a researcher in PARC’s Computing Science Lab. His work explored how data harvested from multi-player virtual worlds could help illuminate their social nature. Since receiving a B.S. from Caltech in 1980, Eric has spent time as a video game designer, developing high-speed imaging software, and creating research software prototypes, as well as living and doing language- and culture-learning for several years in an isolated village in Southeast Asia. He also holds an M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary.