The Mind's Machine: A Journey Through Personal Albums and Exploring the Intersection of Tech and Humanity
Welcome to my personal blog that delves into the intricate tapestry of personal albums and the fascinating intersection of ever-evolving technology and humanity. Come along on a journey with me as we delve into the seamless fusion of creativity, state-of-the-art AI and robotics, intricately interwoven within the tapestry of our shared awareness.
In San Francisco, the 2022 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) annual conference was held both in-person (also streamed virtually). It highlight Samsung’s plans to evolve the SmartThings platform and collaborate with developers and creators to build next generation connected experiences for millions around the world. Samsung showcase its vision for Calm Technology, where devices connect seamlessly for a more intelligent consumer experience that takes place instantly.
SDC 2022 Keynote
With opening remarks from Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device Experience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, the presentations revealed how Samsung is crafting systems that help make lives smarter, safer, more convenient and more connected than ever before. Jong-Hee Han highligts the importance of convenience in an age of brilliant yet complex technologies. “At Samsung, our goal has always been to make our lives easier through technology innovation,” said Han.
But innovation can also be burdensome for users if convenience is not at the forefront. Our teams are determined to deliver devices that are as smooth and accessible as they are advanced.
Samsung SmartThings Platform
Jaeyeon Jung, Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Mobile eXperience Business, outlines how the platform is helping realize a truly seamless, intuitive household device ecosystem. Samsung’s SmartThings platform, Jung explained, is the perfect way to do this in your home. Thanks to a wide range of improvements to the household ecosystem platform, finding, setting up, onboarding and synchronizing new devices into your household will be easier and more efficient than ever. This includes Galaxy Quick Pair, Matter Hub connectivity, SmartThings Energy and SmartThings Music Sync, as well as boosted integration with partner systems and an expanded SmartThings website.
From deeper integration with Bixby to seamless connectivity with Matter-compatible devices, SmartThings is creating a richer, more open world that empowers all users to streamline their connections and their daily lives. Check out the demo video below from one of the SDC 2022 booth:
Here is another interesting demo at the booth showcasing the SmartThings Edge User Experience with the robot vacuum. It is part of the Home Life Care feature where the home speaker can detect dog barking sounds, it then look for the pet with the robot vacuum going around the house. Once it found the pet, then it start recording the video. The video summary will be shared with the owner via the Pet Care Fervice inside the SmartThings App.
Samsung Google Patnership
Matthew McCullough from Google came one stage to provide an overview of Matter, a system that lays the groundwork for true interoperability between devices in the home. Samsung is committed to Matter integration, and confident it will make the dream of a fully integrated household a reality. By working closely together, Samsung and Google aim to make life for both users and device makers simpler and smoother, with multi-admin features that cut down on manual management and make Google Home and Nest Hub more accessible.
This ease of use across Samsung and Google is just the start, and we’re looking forward to delivering a more seamless, delightful home experience
Samsung Bixby Voice Assistant
Anil Yadav, Head of Bixby Lab at Samsung Research1 America, took to the stage to discuss SmartThings’ bespoke speech platform and de facto voice in the home, including its exciting new feature: Bixby Home Studio. “With Bixby Home Studio, you can create experiences that span multiple devices and respond more intuitively to user commands,” said Yadav. Ready to do everything from queuing up your next action movie on your Samsung Smart TV to boosting your mobile security with On-Device AI, Bixby is smarter and more powerful than ever. The following demo video showcasing the Bixby Home Studio functionality to control multiple smart home devices via voice command. Device manufacturers can use this UI tool to design certain smart home flow that's most appropriate to the end users using their devices.
For example, if you ask Bixby to turn on your air conditioner, Bixby can check if you have any windows open and let you know to close them, saving energy.
Samsung Gaming Hub
Samsung Gaming Hub, launched in June, is an all-in-one gaming solution that, thanks to partnerships with industry leaders like Xbox, lets players connect their controllers to Samsung TVs and access all the games they love without even needing a console or PC. Samsung TV Plus, the FAST streaming TV and video platform that relaunched this summer, now reaches 24 countries and 465 million devices globally. It is projected to clock in an impressive three billion hours streamed by users by the end of 2022. Thanks to broad reach, smooth monetization integration and an advertising environment optimized for both clients and users, Samsung streaming also offers an ideal platform for premium advertising.
Leveraging partnerships with gaming leaders like Xbox, NVIDIA and Utomik, Tizen is helping bring a truly consolidated, uninterrupted gaming experience to users with Samsung Gaming Hub, with fantastic performance and image quality, Kim explained. It delivers stunning visual displays and blockchain wallet integration to Samsung TVs for better at-home art experiences, while also helping Smart Hub deliver the best in content searches and recommendations. Tizen Enterprise, meanwhile, is boosting B2B partners’ display and signage options, while Tizen Everywhere aims to expand licensing and bring the system to more countries.
One UI 5 eXperience
Next up was Sally Hyesoon Jeong, Vice President of Framework R&D Group, Mobile eXperience Business, whose theme for the day was the company’s latest leap forward in the UI experience: One UI 5. Splitting the new UI update’s advancements into three areas — Personalization, Productivity and Possibility — Jeong shared a host of new and improved features. Personalization included deep customization enhancements, like Dynamic Lockscreen for smartphones, Watch Face Studio for Galaxy Watches and custom-built Modes and Routines, while health and security functions are also more adaptable than ever. The Productivity section included Bixby Text Call, improved phone-to-PC connectivity and multitasking upgrades like Taskbar improvements. Possibilities covered One UI 5’s integration with innovative Samsung Foldable devices and related functions like Flex Mode.
The final talk before the wrap-up was from Sebastian Seung, President and Head of Samsung Research. While many of the day’s talks focused on recent improvements, Seung has his eye on the innovations of tomorrow, aiming for no less than the merging of the physical and digital worlds. In the home robotics field, Seung discussed the company’s continued success with a household supported by advanced, AI-enhanced devices, including the object-detecting JetBot AI+ vacuum, the Bot Handy chore assistant prototype and even future plans for Samsung’s latest robot arm manipulation code, which will soon be available on GitHub.
To round off the talks, Jong-Hee Han returned to the stage to offer a final word, summarizing the technologies showcased at SDC and the course of the company’s future of innovation. “I would like to talk about the future one more time,” he added.
The future of something very dear to my heart: our planet. I believe we have a responsibility to help create a sustainable future. We do that through Everyday Sustainability, a belief that every stage of the product lifecycle can be more sustainable.
Immersive 3D Audio
Here inside a closed demo room blocking all ourside sounds, audio engineer Matthew McDuffee from Samsung demonstrated an audio system with dramatically improved Immersive 3D Audio Experience. Hardware is similar to Samsung’s HW-Q990B SoundBar, but will include several new technologies that will be found in future Samsung products. These technologies automatically correct for room acoustics and the location of the listeners and loudspeakers. Samsung will introduce AI AutoEQ that will "Voice Match" all the speakers in the system to dramatically improve immersion. I was able to compare the immersive sound of the system before and after the system’s unique automated calibration process, which is very impressive listening to the improved spatial and timbral performance in stereo, surround and immersive audio formats with both music and cinematic content. AI help remix the sound to compensate for poorly located speakers taking immersion to the next level.
Immersive Fitness
This Immersive Fitness Platform provide immersive ride expeience on Tizen ecosystem. Samsung provide guide on connecting the indoor-ride device and have the option to povide service On-Deivce or On-Cloud. It currently supports Bluetooth Sensor based indoor bikes, rowers, treadmills. The fitness device Sensor is integrated with the Tizen platform. It provide update 3D Application with standrad input system. Samsung currently in collaboration with industyr leading partneres such as BKOOL cycling, ImersU rowing, etc. BKOOL app offers one of the best indoor cycling sessions and exert coaches. Hundred of workouts and results can be accessed from the BKOOL app which is compatible with Strava, Google Fit (android) and Health (iOs).
XR Experience at Big Screen
Here is a video demoing the Samsung XR Experience at the Big Screen.
HARMAN Ready Care
I got the chance to try out the newly announced HARMAN Ready Care system that provides car driver monitoring services. HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung, focused on connected technologies and solutions for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets. The Ready Care system is a set of solutions — Cognitive Distraction, Stress-Free Routing, and Personalized Comfort — that can work together or independently to improve safety and reduce driver stress. In addition to employing cameras that can detect driver drowsiness, Ready Care measures real-time driver cognitive load to identify when potential distractions arise, and then offers tailored intervention strategies to maximize safety. It is powered by the latest AI technologies that gathers drivers data and use them for training the AI models for in-vehicle monitoring to trigger a range of behavioral responses — increasing awareness, alleviating stress, or stimulating relief.
