Dr. Raj Arangarasan focuses on business initiatives that develop cutting edge ideas, technologies, and products. His commitment to innovation, research & development, leadership, and management play an important role in the success of his business initiatives.

As leader of research teams and through individual research, Raj produces excellent results in several areas including but not limited to: Web technologies, High Performance Computing and Visualization (cloud-based technologies), User Interface (multi-modal multi-sensory interaction), Mobile technologies (ubiquitous mobile computing), Virtual Environments (virtual reality, distributed collaborative design, advanced visualization), Large Scale Display Systems (Portable VR systems, VR-Theater, Tiled Display Wall), Augmented Reality, Computer Graphics (computer-aided design, geometric modeling), etc.

Raj led a research team that designed and built one of the largest passive stereoscopic display systems in an academic environment in the country (USA, 2003-2004). He worked on over 100 projects as either research leader or collaborator and supervised over two dozen undergraduate and graduate students on different projects. These projects span a wide range of application areas, such as, geographic information system, earth and atmospheric sciences, glaciology, homeland security, biosciences, healthcare, nanotechnology, advanced life support, space exploration, architecture, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, consumer science, and entertainment.

Teaching is an avenue that Raj uses both to continue research and generate excitement about the field among students. He created (and co-created) graduate level courses, such as “Introduction to Virtual Reality”, “Augmented Reality”, “Product Design using Virtual Environments” and “Collaborative Virtual and Augmented Environments.” He enjoys teaching cutting edge graphics and visualization technologies, and through his business initiatives develops interactive and collabortive educational (teaching and learning) products.

Raj has experience working in international academic and business environments. He worked at Purdue University as Senior Analyst/Visualization Application Engineer/Research Scientist/Visualization Research Coordinator in ITaP, and as Assistant Professor (courtesy appointment) in the department of Computer Graphics Technology. He performed research in the Advanced technology group at PTC, a world leading CAD, PLM, and ECM product development company. Raj also conducted research in various universities including the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur, Anna University, and University of Madras.

Raj received his Ph.D. (Major/Minor: Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, received his MS (ME) from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, MS (ME) from Anna University (completed course work only), and his BS (ME) from the University of Madras.

Raj is an active member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), ACM-SIGGRAPH, ACM-SIGCHI, ACM-SIGMOBILE, from 2000 to present. Raj serves as an International Editorial Review Board member for the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning.