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Emberlight lets regular light bulbs join the Internet of Things

August 05, 2014
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Emberlight is an adapter that turns any light into a smart light
Emberlight is an adapter that turns any light into a smart light
Emberlight simply screws into a light fitting and connects to a home WiFi network
Emberlight can be set to come on when users are within a certain distance
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Smart lighting requires that either the wiring and infrastructure or the bulbs themselves are able to be connected to the web. Philips hue, LIFX and INSTEON bulbs all take this latter approach, but buying new smart bulbs can be expensive. Emberlight is an adapter designed to make any bulb smart without the expense.

Like Spark, the Emberlight sits between a light fitting and a bulb and connects to the user's Wi-Fi network to allow the remote control of the light from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

However, unlike Spark, which missed its crowdfunding goal on Kickstarter leaving the company to focus on providing an open-source operating system for the Internet of Things, the Emberlight has been more successful. The device has already hit its Kickstarter target with another month left to go.

Emberlight simply screws into a light fitting and connects to a home WiFi network

Installation of the Emberlight adapter is simply a case of screwing it into a light fitting as you would a bulb. The bulb then screws into the adapter. Users need then only pull up the Emberlight mobile app and connect the device to their home Wi-Fi network.

Once the Emberlight adapter is set up, it is possible to manually raise and lower the brightness of a bulb, set bulbs to fade up or down at certain times, set and load lighting mood presets, have lights automatically come on when you are within a certain distance and control lights at home when you're elsewhere. The company also suggests that users can save energy by slightly reducing the brightness of lights throughout their home and notifications will tell a user if they have left any on.

Emberlight can be set to come on when users are within a certain distance

Emberlight works with incandescent, halogen, dimmable CFL and dimmable LED bulbs. The device is designed for use with Edison screw bulbs, although adapters for bayonet bulbs are available. Emberlight is also planning to release actual bayonet versions of the device for counties where this format is used.

Pledges for the Kickstarter campaign start at US$49 in order to receive an Emberlight, assuming all goes to plan with their production.

The Emberlight video pitch can be viewed below.

Source: Emberlight

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Around The HomeLightingWi-FiInternet of ThingsKickstarterCrowdfunding
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7 comments
DavidB
Let me get this straight: "Don't spend $30 on an Insteon or $37 on a RoboSmart bulb; buy a $49 adapter to make your regular bulb smart."
Why would I do that?
3HullsRbest
I like the bit where the light control people used a hard coded crypto and surprise guys dumped the code and found it. Oops. The Internet of Dumb.
moreover
Could be useful for film crews to remotely adjust lights on the set, especially for low budget productions or where you need to avoid unsightly cables.
David Bell
@DavidB: Because when the lamp eventually needs replacement, it costs $1, not another $30-37
StWils
Or you could continue to just walk up to a lamp and rotate the F'ing switch like millions of people do. Not every implementation of technology is a good idea. This is good for little more than enabling lazy terrorists, malicious ex-spouses, juvenile prankers, etc. BTW, with all the stuff being routed through your smart phone what happens when you lose it, sit on it, the kids lose it, your pets think its a chew toy, it drops into the toilet, river, sewer drain, or you just run a little bit too late in paying up to whichever service provider is robbing you now? Walk over to the switch like everyone else.
Hundy
I can't wait to see the first article on a piece of tech that enables you to control your smart phone with another smart phone in case it's more than 30cm away. Totally agree with StWils above.
Konstantin Bogun
Non-competent price for this device. LG released LED bulb for only 15$ now, meanwhile, it cannot be used for colour-controlled applications, which much more popular today. Time is elapsed.
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