CES: Greater openness needed to unlock IoT, says Samsung CEO

• In 5yrs, all Samsung hardware will be IoT-ready, chief exec says in keynote
• Company to invest more than US$100mil in its developer community in 2015

THERE is a need for greater openness and collaboration across industries to unlock the possibilities of the Internet of Things (IoT), said Samsung Electronics president and chief executive officer B.K. Yoon (pic above).
 
“The Internet of Things has the potential to transform our society, economy and how we live our lives,” he said.
 
“It is our job to pull together – as an industry, and across different sectors – to make true on the promise of the Internet of Things,” he said in his opening keynote speech at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
Yoon said that the IoT must centre on people and fit into their lifestyles, adding that “the Internet of Things is not about ‘things.’ Instead, it is about people.
 
“Each person is at the centre of his or her own technology universe, and the IoT universe will constantly adapt and change shape as people move through their world,” he said.

READ ALSO: CES: Intel unveils next-gen tech, wearables, diversity initiatives
 
Yoon also announced a timetable for making Samsung technology IoT-enabled. By 2017, all Samsung televisions will be IoT devices, and in five years all Samsung hardware will be IoT-ready, further accelerating the expansion of IoT devices available in the market, he said.
 
He also emphasised the importance of developers in building the IoT, and announced that Samsung would invest more than US$100 million in its developer community in 2015.
 
IoT devices and components
 
In the IoT era, sensors become even more advanced and precise, and key components become ever more compact and highly energy efficient, Yoon argued.
 
Samsung’s advanced sensors are precise enough to understand a person’s surrounding environment and offer the right solution or service, he claimed.
 
For example, Samsung is developing a new three-dimensional range sensor that can detect the tiniest movements.
 
The company is also working on chips, such as the embedded package on package (ePOP) and the Bio-Processor, which are energy-efficient and compact enough to go into a wide range of devices, especially wearables and mobile devices.
 
“Expanding the devices in the IoT ecosystem and the components that power them is the first step in fulfilling the promise of the IoT,” said Yoon.
 
“Samsung already has a broad range of IoT devices. Last year, we delivered more than 665 million products, and this number is set to increase.
 
“We have already begun to unlock the value hidden in connected devices and all the everyday objects around us,” he added.
 
Creating an open ecosystem
 
Yoon also emphasised the importance of openness in bringing the IoT to life. Joining him on stage, SmartThings chief executive officer Alex Hawkinson plugged Samsung’s vision for an open infrastructure.
 
“For the IoT to be a success, it has to be open,” said Hawkinson. “Any device, from any platform, must be able to connect and communicate with one another.
 
“We’ve worked hard to accomplish this, and are committed to putting users first, giving them the most choice and freedom possible. The SmartThings ecosystem is now compatible with more devices than any other platform,” he added.
 
Collaborating across industries
 
Samsung believes that the IoT will have far-reaching impact, much more so than the consumer electronics industry has so far, as it will touch every aspect of people’s lives and revolutionise every industry.
 
But for the IoT to succeed, companies across all industries will have to collaborate to build the necessary infrastructure and develop the many tailored services that can meet the needs of consumers.
 
“I know in my heart that neither one single company nor one industry alone can deliver the benefits of the Internet of Things,” said Yoon.
 
“To create this IoT universe, we have to see the potential of the Internet of Things across all kinds of industries. Only if we work together can we improve people’s lives,” he added.
 
For more information on Samsung at CES, click here.
 
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