BK Yoon, Samsung Electronics’ CEO, says the Internet of Things requires openness and industry collaboration if it is to succeed. Mr. Yoon made the comment in a keynote speech at the opening of the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
Without such collaboration and openness it will not be possible to unlock the infinite possibilities of the Internet of Things, Mr. Yoon insisted.
As part of its commitment, Samsung said it would invest over $100 million to support its developer community this year by strengthening its accelerator programs and enhancing its international developer events.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a proposed development in which everyday objects as well as manufacturing floors, energy grids, healthcare facilities, and transportation have network connectivity to the internet, allowing them to send and receive data.
Eventually, even humans and animals would be provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over the network without the need for human-to-computer or human-to-human interaction.
The “Internet of Things” will completely change the way we live and work.
Mr. Yoon said:
“The Internet of Things has the potential to transform our society, economy and how we live our lives,” said Mr. Yoon. “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.”
Focus on people
IoT has to focus on people and complement their lifestyles, Mr. Yoon added. He reiterated that the Internet is about people, not things. “Each person is at the centre of their own technology universe, and the IoT universe will constantly adapt and change shape as people move through their world.”
Mr. Yoon announced a timetable for making Samsung technology IoT-enabled. He claims that Samsung TV sets will be IoT devices by 2017, while all its other hardware will be IoT-ready within the next five years, thus speeding up the expansion of IoT devices available on the market.
In an IoT world, sensors will become even more advanced and precise than they are today, while key components will be highly energy efficient and compact, Mr. Yoon explained.
Samsung’s advanced sensors will be able to understand an individual’s surrounding environment so that it may offer the right service or solution. The company is currently developing a new 3-dimensional range sensor that can detect the most miniscule of movements, he said.
Samsung is also working on chips, such as the Bio-Processor and ePOP (embedded package-on-package), which are energy-efficient and small enough to fit into a wide range of products, especially mobile and wearable devices.
Mr. Yoon said:
“Expanding the devices in the IoT ecosystem and the components that power them is the first step in fulfilling the promise of the Internet of Things. Samsung already has a broad range of IoT devices. Last year, Samsung 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.”
An open ecosystem is essential
As well as IoT components and devices, openness is a vital ingredient in bringing IoT to life, Mr. Yoon emphasized.
Alex Hawkinson, CEO of SmartThings, joined Mr. Yoon on stage and said:
“For the Internet of Things 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.”
Samsung believes that IoT’s impact on our lives will far exceed that of the consumer electronics industry so far, because it will touch every aspect of our lives and revolutionize every industry.
However, IoT’s ultimate success will depend on companies across every industry collaborating to build the required infrastructure, and develop the tailored IoT services that can meet consumer needs.
Mr. Yoon said:
“I know in my heart that neither one single company nor one industry alone can deliver the benefits of the Internet of Things. 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.”
