# Conference Room Innovation

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2023-01-30
- Length: 1h 09m
- Episode: 617
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/617-conference-room-innovation/

## Summary

Dave Jones of EEVblog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss the complexities of residential solar and battery storage, including specific quotes from Tesla and Enphase, and the challenges of integrating systems. They then analyze the recent wave of tech layoffs, sharing personal experiences from companies like Altium and Keithley, and debate the future of remote work and the 'conference room problem.' Finally, they explore niche PCB design techniques, such as embedding heating elements and cooling channels, and discuss Apple's shift toward in-house silicon design.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=0) Introduction and Australia Day Banter
- [6:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=385) Residential Solar and Battery Storage Challenges
- [26:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=1594) Tech Layoffs and Remote Work Culture
- [37:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=2233) The Conference Room Audio Problem
- [47:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=2820) Apple's In-House Silicon Strategy
- [50:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation#t=3041) Niche PCB Design and Self-Soldering Boards

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Tesla (company)
- Powerwall (product)
- Enphase (company)
- Generac (company)
- Victron (company)
- BYD (company)
- Span.io (product)
- Altium (company)
- Keithley (company)
- Apple (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- Broadcom (company)
- RISC-V (chip)
- PDP 11 (chip)
- Carl Bugeja (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-02-04-t-26-012-founders-from-the-show-floor-ces-2026) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Living With Technology | Hot Licks from Hot Chips | Oh, Shenandoah](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-08-21-living-with-technology-hot-licks-from-hot-chips-oh-shenandoah) (EE Times Current)
- [519:  Eel Fork Hands](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-03-20-519-eel-fork-hands) (Making It)
- [112: My Brain Is My Resource](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-08-04-112-my-brain-is-my-resource) (Embedded.fm)
- [47: Bridge of Toothpicks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-16-47-bridge-of-toothpicks) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-30-conference-room-innovation. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.