Brilliant Control brings smart home to the light switch

While smart lights and other smart devices are able to save consumers money over long-term use, these can also add complexity to a home. Smartphone apps aren't the most intuitive way of interacting with home appliances, but it's one of the primary means of controlling smart devices. Some companies have looked at using tablets, TVs, lights and other devices as hubs for the smart home, but now Sonos is turning light switches into hubs.

Brilliant Control is a light switch from Sonos subsidiary Brilliant Home Technology. Each Brilliant control has a touchscreen and up to four switches. A single-switch control panel goes for $199 and a four-switch panel is $349. The switches are touch-sensitive sliders that allow quick access to things like lighting and temperature. However, everything is accessible through the touchscreen. Brilliant Control also has a motion sensor, ambient light sensor and camera at the top.

Since Brilliant is owned by Sonos, the Control works with other Sonos devices. It's compatible with Nest, Bose, Honeywell and many other brands, as well. For voice recognition support, it uses Amazon Alexa, making it easy to place orders, play music and do other tasks that can be performed by the Amazon Echo.

With multiple Brilliant Control panels installed in different rooms, family members can easily talk to each other using the built-in microphone and camera. Parents can turn on the lights in their kids' rooms in the morning or call them down for dinner. The idea for Brilliant Control is compelling, but it comes at a steep price.

Light switches are one of the more intuitive ways of interacting with a home since it's something most people do several times a day. Smart light switches have been around for years, although they seem to be getting smarter. For people who want basic functionality like setting up lights according to a specific schedule, these light switches can come quite cheap.

China suppliers offer all kinds of remote control light switches that connect to other devices through Z-Wave, ZigBee and Wi-Fi. It's even possible to get a smart light switch with a small display on it for about $25 these days.

Few companies have turned the light switch into a full-fledged smart home hub, though. The Brilliant Control is well thought out both as a hub and a light switch thanks to the quick-access sliders. This might be what smart homes of the future look like.