[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]
A smart home system is a network of connected home appliances. Through a hub or server, users can access and control appliances using their smartphones or control devices. The global market for smart home systems is estimated at $62.6 billion in 2022 and is growing at an average annual growth rate of 27.04 percent, according to global market research firm Grand View Research.
Previously, smart home devices were normally compatible only with other devices made by the same brand. However, the global smart home standard called "Matter" was launched in October 2022 to provide super-connectivity among smart home devices from different brands. By using the Matter language, smart home devices can communicate with each other to perform smooth and continuous operations. For example, a smart door lock will communicate with the lighting system to turn on the lights when the master returns home.
Samsung said that the company unveiled SmartThings Station at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 5. The smart home hub device with a wireless charging feature can connect multiple smart home devices as well as Matter devices. Users can automate different functions of their home appliances through Samsung's new smart home gadget.
"Having a smarter home shouldn't be complicated or expensive. So we wanted to create SmartThings Station as a simple, reliable and expandable smart home hub," Samsung Electronics' SmartThings and device platform center head Jung Jae-yeon said in a statement.
SmartThings Station will help users find misplaced personal belongings like a smartphone, tablet PC, or smartwatch through a special tracking ability. The smart home hub can also track wallets attached with smart tags made by Samsung. Samsung said that SmartThings will be available in South Korea and the United States in early February 2023.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
