 His key research programmes included artificial intelligence techniques applied to dense electronic designs, a virtual graphics machine global standard, software engineering techniques for high-performance Digital Multiplex System products, and computer-aided design strategies for locally intelligent products.During this time he was a science and technology adviser to the Canadian government and served as a member of the Science and Engineering Research Council for Canada.In 1981, with a small number of BNR colleagues, Pearson left to found Orcatech Inc., one of the first companies specialising in the design and development of raster-based high resolution intelligent graphics workstations for the computer-aided engineering market.