SMARTTHINGS CLOUD SERVICE Samsung entered into cloud computing through its SmartThings device and service The word cloud simply refers to the internet Cloud computing is the storing and accessing of data and programs over the internet Cloud computing is big business In 2015 this type of computing was worth an estimated 67 billion That figure was expected to rise to 162 billion by 2020 3 CONNECTING EVERYTHING Samsung has long been a manufacturer of electronics hardware The company has also begun working on its own software to go with those devices One of Samsung’s goals is to have all electronic devices connected through a single system To do that it developed its SmartThings cloud service Even smart cars will be connected through SmartThings which includes a hub device and an accompanying online service HS Kim one of Samsung’s CEOs chief executive officers explained SmartThings will be your remote control for your connected devices 2 Those connected devices include not only televisions and monitors but even kitchen appliances Samsung’s refrigerators are getting smarter The interior cameras can tell whether the ingredients for a particular recipe are already in the fridge The smart TV on the front can play favorite programs or cooking videos The company even upgraded the fridge’s built-in speaker system 8
Samsung also showed off appliances for the laundry room Its compact QuickDrive washing machine only 24 inches 61 cm wide will fit in a closet or small space Samsung said the washer would clean the clothes faster than regular washers It also has a small door through which forgotten items can be added during the wash cycle without getting water all over the floor Samsung demonstrated new speakers at the event too One was a sound bar designed to go with the company’s wall-mounted TVs Another was a wireless A CES attendee examines one of Samsung’s new smart refrigerators 9
speaker only a few inches thick and two feet 61 cm wide Volume control is through a magnetic dial that looks like a hockey puck It can be attached to any metal surface The speakers are Wi-Fi connected and are controlled by the SmartThings app COMPUTER CHIPS Samsung has long been a leading computer chip manufacturer In 2018 its most advanced chip to date was incorporated into its newest smartphone the Galaxy S9 The chip was an award winner in the embedded technologies category at the CES 2018 show The new chip will also be used in personal computers The fast and powerful chip is expected to help Samsung get further into the artificial intelligence AI field The company aims to be an industry leader in AI someday However Samsung has some catching up to do in this area Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant had advantages in technology and popularity as of early 2018 MEDICAL DEVICES Samsung also featured two medical devices that were created in the company’s research program C-Lab One 10
of them GoBreath is for patients with lung damage The portable device helps patients learn methods of breathing that will speed their recovery time after surgery Their doctors can check on their progress remotely through the internet A second product Relumino smart glasses was also introduced The glasses help people with vision problems see better when they are reading or just looking at objects An accompanying phone processes videos from a camera in the glasses Those images are then sent back to a display on the glasses allowing the person to see the image more clearly HEALTH-CARE ROBOTS Samsung’s participation in the health-care and AI fields has great potential The combination could make health care more efficient friendly and accurate However public trust issues about machine learning and AI have to be addressed Who is responsible if health care AI makes the wrong decision What is the risk of AI health care being used to hurt people Experts in technology and ethics are studying such questions The Nuffield Council on Bioethics an independent organization based in the United Kingdom stated in one of its reports AI technologies have the potential to help address important health challenges 4 But the report also indicated that AI might be limited by the quality of the data it has access to and whether it can mimic important human qualities such as compassion 11
