The Tuesday night CES 2022 keynote by Jong-Hee (JH) Han, vice chairman, CEO and head of DX (Device eXperience) Division at Samsung, was devoted not only to the ways that the company is tackling sustainability issues, but also how it is working with the younger generation and strategic partners to a build a future that will make life better for everyone. But he also advised that Samsung cannot reach that future alone, and only by working together—as individuals and as an industry—can we achieve our goals.
These concepts are exemplified by Samsung’s “Together for tomorrow” vision, which details the company’s efforts to usher in a new age of togetherness with customizable experiences that reflect consumers’ evolving lifestyles and innovations that mark progress for both society and the planet. As Han explained, Samsung plans to make its vision a reality by introducing a range of sustainability initiatives, purposeful partnerships and customizable and connected technologies.
As part of its sustainability initiatives, Han described how Samsung has reduced carbon emissions through its screens and mobile devices by 700,000 tons. Recycled materials are also a big part of the Samsung sustainability journey, with the company promising to use 30 times more recycled materials than it has the past two years. The recycled material also applies to the company’s packaging.
Other sustainability initiatives include home energy monitoring through SmartThings, zero standby power, which uses no power when idle, and expanded use of remotes that charge through solar cells, eliminating the need for disposable batteries. To further cement the “Better Together” theme, Han stated that Samsung’s eco-conscious technologies, like the SolarCell Remote, will be made open-source, so that others can utilize them for their new devices, too.
He also announced a collaboration with Patagonia to create a solution that will help fight plastic pollution by enabling Samsung washing machines to minimize microplastics from entering waterways through laundry cycles.
“This is a serious problem, and not one we can solve on our own,” said Vincent Stanley, director of philosophy at Patagonia. “[This is] a perfect example of the kind of collaboration we all need to help turn the tide of climate change and restore nature to health.”
Han then pivoted from working with industry leaders to working with the next generation of technology experts that are shaping our world. With that, he introduced several members of Samsung’s Future Generation Lab who walked the audience through some of the innovative new products Samsung is launching at CES, including The Freestyle projector, the Samsung Gaming Hub, the Odyssey Ark gaming monitor and the bespoke-oriented #YouMake project.
The Freestyle is a lightweight, portable screen offering a cinema-quality experience no matter where you are. Featuring AI-enabled sound, built-in streaming apps and a host of useful Smart TV accessibility features, The Freestyle can be set up virtually anywhere and projects up to 100 inches.
The Samsung Gaming Hub, meanwhile, offers an all-in-one platform for discovering and playing cloud and console games, and is set to launch on the company’s 2022 Smart TVs and monitors. Also for gamers, the Odyssey Ark is a 55-inch flexible and curved gaming screen that takes immersion to the next level with a multi-view experience that allows users to play games, video chat with friends and watch gaming videos at the same time.
To introduce more tailored product experiences to consumers’ homes, Samsung announced the rollout of even more customization options for its Bespoke lineup of home appliances, including new Bespoke options for Samsung’s Family Hub and French 3-Door and 4-Door refrigerators, alongside dishwashers, ranges and over-the-range microwaves. Samsung is also introducing new products like the Bespoke Jet vacuum and Bespoke Washer and Dryer.
The #YouMake Project represents the culmination of Samsung’s customization efforts that empower consumers to choose and customize products based on what matters most to them. The initiative expands Samsung’s Bespoke vision beyond home appliances and brings it to life in the company’s smartphones and large-screen devices.
The final product announcement involved the new Samsung Home Hub, which takes connected home experiences to the next level with a SmartThings service that integrates with AI-connected appliances to simplify home management. The Samsung SmartThings Hub will be a built-in feature in its 2022 TVs, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators.
The goal is to get SmartThings to move beyond Samsung products, which is why has become a founding member of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA), which brings together various smart home appliance manufacturers. The organization aims to foster greater interoperability between devices across brands to give consumers more choice, and to enhance the security and safety of products and services.
“As a global coalition of smart home appliance manufacturers, HCA members share a belief that connected ecosystems and digital technology will allow us to further develop product experiences that are elegant, hyper-personalized and truly smart for our consumers,” said Katherine Shin, vice president of customer experience at Trane Technologies, another HCA member. “The HCA invites any global manufacturers with a similar vision for efficiency, interoperability and innovation to come and build with us.”
“I’m honored to share that Samsung’s programs to empower the next generation have now reached more than 21 million people since 2012,” concluded Han. “This is the better tomorrow we all seek: enabling people to reach beyond their dreams, a planet protected so others can experience its wonders, innovation as the spark for change.”
