To paraphrase Shakespeare "Some are born geeks, some achieve geekness and some have geekness thrust upon them". Rupert Powell is very much in the first camp, and has been pitched there since childhood.
Having developed an interest in audio while working with the film and TV industry, Rupert took a post at York University as a sound engineer and tutor in their educational and experimental broadcasting studio. Various projects ensued including the design and implementation of vivid soundscapes for award-winning visitor attractions such as 'Jorvic Viking Centre', 'Canterbury Pilgrims Way' and the 'Living Legend' in Jersey.
His work on these projects involved finding unique ways for the public to interact with the exhibits – through audio, visual and special effects – thus enriching the visitor experience. The geeky term for this is User Interaction Design (UID), and it was at this stage that Rupert began his lifelong fascination with the subject.
"As technology becomes more complex, more is achievable but using it can become more difficult. The latest mobile phone might be able to do all sorts of new stuff, but how tricky is it to understand and operate? UID is all about making it easier, more user-friendly. Essentially you shouldn't have to learn how to use technology; technology should learn about you, about what you want to do, and then deliver it intuitively and effortlessly. No matter how good a user interface is, less of it would be better!"
14 years working with AMX followed, the company being a world leader in automation, control and graphical user interfaces. In other words, right up Rupert's street. As their European Technical Director, he travelled the world holding seminars on User Interaction Design for such organisations as 3M, Olympus Medical, Cedia, Infocom and NSCA.
Today, Rupert heads up the technical side of Clever Association, working with a dedicated team of graduate technicians who all share his passion for user simplicity and usefulness. And to endorse his statement that, even when it comes to hobbies, he's into absolutely anything geeky, he lists them as astronomy, the making of telescopes, and electronics.
Richard's
forte is design and project management. In the 10 years prior to joining Clever
Association he handled many assignments for technology companies such as AMX
(where he met Powell) and CEDIA (who later awarded Clever with
one of their most high profile assignments, see Grand Designs feature on this
site.) His role was to manage and develop every aspect
the brand, from designing literature and exhibitions right through to supervising
showroom refits.
Richard's vision of the future is that, before long, everyone will have a networked home. "The movement is gaining momentum. I have no doubt that in the next 5 years every home in Europe will have some element of integrated technology. And, like the technology itself, we're here to make it understandable, practical and easy to use. Everything else aside, it's one of the most significant ways we can conserve energy, with all the ecological and economical benefits that engenders.
"My pet hates? Seeing wires sprawling everywhere, and badly installed technology. There's just no need for it. And hobbies? Chucking a rugby ball about on any pitch... if not watching it."
