ROBERT GILLIGAN
Senior Technology Advisor at Amplified Lifestyles
Robert Gilligan
FAME: When was Amplified Lifestyles founded, and what led to its creation?
RG: Amplified was founded out of the ashes of VIA, a national roll-up of 7 of the West Coast's largest residential A/V Home Technology integration firms. Before this roll-up, our firm, then known as Engineered Environments, was one of the Bay Area's first A/V integrators, so we benefited from a 20-year history in the local marketplace. Amplified was initially launched to provide service for our Engineered Environments/VIA clients and slowly developed over the first 2 years into a full-fledged design/build firm. We're still laser-focused on post-installation service; our service team is 1/4 of our nearly 50-person staff. This focus on post-installation service separates us from our local competition, whose business models focus on moving from new construction projects to new construction projects.
© Adam Slama
FAME: What are your thoughts on controlling the entire home through mobile phone apps?
RG: We're huge fans of a Multi-app approach as long as there are also manufacturer controls with screens/buttons as a physical option. (For example, lighting control or security panel keypads). Before smartphones and tablets were available, our systems deployed expensive custom-programmed touchscreens. While the bespoke graphics were great, reliability issues were a problem with what was essentially a one-off iPad for a single client's home rather than having a cohort of thousands of smart home app users. We don't have as much flexibility with custom graphics these days, but having more reliable control platforms is appreciated by all our clients, builders, and design partners.
“Reliability issues with expensive custom-programmed systems were a problem...There’s less flexibility with customisation on phone apps, but having more reliable control platforms is appreciated by everyone.”
© Douglas Friedman
FAME: How do you ensure new technology integrates smoothly into different home styles, from traditional to modern?
RG: We joke that our role in the project's design team is to HIDE the technology. Flush mounting goes a long way for speakers, but we need to be careful not to flush mount items like iPads or TVs, whose sizes change over time. (Though creating technology "niches" is a great way to mitigate the pain of refinishing a wall).
© Sharon Risedorph
FAME: What's the most challenging part of designing custom electronics that harmonize with a home's layout and interior?
RG: We adjust three levers when designing these systems: price, performance, and aesthetics.
Each area of the house will have a slightly different use case, and our blend will change as a result. (i.e., a seldomly used formal Dining Room may have a high aesthetics need but NOT a high-performance need, whereas a dedicated Media Room may have a high-performance need, but clients and design teams may be willing to sacrifice aesthetics to allow for more visible technology.
FAME: Many homeowners worry about the complexity of smart home technology. How does Amplified Lifestyles ensure an easy-to-use experience for clients?
“Never undersetimate the power of a clearly labeled button.”
RG: Previsualization is the key. Most smart home apps have "DEMO" modes, and we'll guide clients through what it will be like to control their home years before move-in day (and will refresh these expectations along the way as the apps change over time and people's memories fade.) Also, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A CLEARLY LABELED BUTTON :-)
© Matthew Millman
FAME: What do you consider to be the three most important factors when designing custom home electronics solutions?
RG: I think the three most important factors when designing custom home AV solutions are:
WHO will be using the technology
WHERE the technology will be used
How OFTEN will the technology be used
These factors guide each room's solution as each introduces a different mix of the "Price/Performance/Aesthetics" levers we need to work with.
“It’s important to consider WHO will be using the technology, WHERE the technology will be used, and how OFTEN will the technology be used.”
FAME: Could you share an example of a memorable project where Amplified Lifestyles truly transformed a space with technology?
RG: I would say the MI7 on Mosquito Island is the most memorable project where we truly transformed the space with AV technology. We designed a DJ Booth that comes up OUT of a Patio deck!!!
© Adam Slama
FAME: What is the best smart home technology or system you recommend to clients today?
RG: Wired and wireless data networks are now the most critical home technology systems. That said, lighting control systems are a VERY close second and, during the night, MORE critical!
© Amplified Lifestyles
FAME: Finally, what's one 'fun fact' about Amplified Lifestyles that people might not know?
RG: I'm trying to think of something "fun," like that we're obsessed with car racing, that we're into outdoor adventuring to counteract all this smart home focus, or that many of us have histories as professional musicians (which are all true). However, the most interesting thing about us as a group is that we are all REALLY into our Logo. (Most of us are not "Wear your company brand to work every day" type of people, but that Logo connects with us HARD, and we subconsciously usually have some kind of company swag on us at all times. On or off the clock :-)