Modern Home Builder - Winter 2018 - 54
Brilliant Getting Smarter The new Brilliant Control enables easier in-home operation of smart home technology. BY JIM HARRIS " Our approach makes the smart home experience easy and delightful for homeowners, families and show homes. " AARON EMIGH, CO-FOUNDER The Brilliant Control replaces a light switch to give touch and voice access to smart home products. Smartphones and mobile apps have revolutionized the way people do just PROFILE BRILLIANT Brilliant.tech / Headquarters: San Mateo, Calif. / Specialty: Smart home control technology / 54 about anything, from shopping and ordering food to getting a ride home. In the eyes of Brilliant's founders, however, there's one thing existing apps can't do well. "We feel the user experience of the smart home right now is broken," says Aaron Emigh, CEO and co-founder of Brilliant. Emigh, who launched the company in November 2016 with partners Steven Stanek and Jeremy Hiatt, experienced first-hand the disadvantage of smart home apps and devices while remodeling his home a few years ago. "Smart devices are no longer just gadgets for geeks - they're adding significant value to the home," he says. "However, as I was adding devices into my home, I found that I was enjoying the experience of the house less and less. "I found it strange that, in order to use a device inside my home, I had to get my smartphone, authenticate to it, open an app and then get to an area in my home www.mhb-magazine.com Winter 2018 BRILLIANT HOME TECHNOLOGIES.indd 54 12/14/17 2:59 PM