In a bid to elevate the intelligence of smart homes, Samsung took center stage at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, revealing an array of enhancements and capabilities for its SmartThings home automation platform. The spotlight of this technological showcase includes the introduction of the Now Plus dashboard screen, set to grace select Samsung TVs. Designed to activate upon approach, this feature displays pertinent information about smart home devices and real-time statistics, such as the current indoor temperature.
Accompanying the Now Plus dashboard is a new “quick panel,” offering convenient access to shortcuts for managing connected devices. Beyond traditional functions, this panel also facilitates tasks like locating misplaced smartphones and other mobile gadgets with seamless efficiency.
One of the standout additions to Samsung’s SmartThings arsenal is the introduction of the “map view,” reminiscent of Amazon’s recently launched Map View. This interactive map provides users with a detailed layout of their homes, pinpointing the exact locations of various smart devices like washing machines and refrigerators. Users have the flexibility to create these maps manually or automatically, using a photo of an existing floor plan or relying on a lidar-enabled Samsung device, such as the upcoming Ballie robot or the new JetBot robot vacuum.
Adding a touch of personality to these smart home maps, Samsung introduces “AI characters” that represent family members and pets within the home. These animated avatars react in real-time to environmental conditions, offering a unique and perhaps whimsical touch to the overall smart home experience. For instance, these characters may appear to “sweat” if the house temperature rises, creating a personalized and visually engaging aspect to home automation.
Generating these SmartThings maps requires the use of the SmartThings app on a smartphone or tablet. Once created, these maps seamlessly integrate with supported Samsung devices, including select Samsung TVs, the screen of the Samsung Family Hub smart fridge, and Samsung’s M8 monitors. Samsung’s latest innovations not only aim to make homes smarter but also strive to make the entire smart home experience more interactive, visually engaging, and, in some instances, a touch whimsical.
