Corsair and Leo in their paddock.
I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Oxford University, UK, an MS in Computer Science from the University of New Hampshire and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island.
As a scientistI am interested in machine learning, deep learning and data science in general. For the past couple of years I have been investigating neural networks for unsupervised learning called self-organizing maps. I am particularly interested in quality measures and stopping criteria for this learning algorithm. Recently I started investigating deep neural maps which are a deep learning extension of self-organizing maps. I am also interested in the semantics and implementation of programming languages. I recently designed a programming language called Asteroid around the new pattern-matching oriented programming paradigm. An experimental implementation of Asteroid can be found here.
As an author I published a book on machine learning using support vector machines and more recently I am working on a book on programming language implementation under contract by Franklin, Beedle & Associates Publishing. This book takes a very modern approach to programming language implementation in the sense that interpreters, compilers, and virtual machines are all given equal weight in terms of being valid implementation strategies for programming languages. You can find a draft of the book here.
As a musician I am mostly interested in Americana and American Roots music and some of its modern interpretations, think Steve Earle or Cat Power. My instruments: fiddle, five string banjo, mandolin, guitar.
As a luthier I build and restore stringed instruments; mostly violins but also parlor guitars, banjos, and mandolins. You can follow my adventures in instrument building and restoration on my blog under my Icelandic alter ego Hilmar Hansson.
As an animal welfare advocate I have been involved with rescue horses
for the better part of the past decade through the horse rescue and
sanctuary called Horse Play. We also foster rescue
horses on our farm in western Rhode Island.