Samsung Unveils Smart Kitchen Appliances

This year’s already shaping up to be a big one for the IoT.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 kicked off this week, and Samsung took center stage to unveil its newest smart kitchen developments, including a serious upgrade to last year’s Family Hub smart fridge and a whole host of new, smart built-in appliances.

The Family Hub 2.0 refrigerator is here — or will be soon. The 1.0 model, released in May 2016, featured internal cameras, grocery ordering functionality, an embedded 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen and online connectivity. The second-generation model will also feature voice technology.

Family Hub 2.0 users will be able to use voice commands to access weather forecasts, the time, the calendar and schedule appointments; to add products to shopping lists; and to order groceries online, in addition to controlling the other integrated fridge apps.

Byung-Sam Seo, president of home appliances at Samsung Electronics, said: “After just one year of availability, the Family Hub has transformed the concept of the connected kitchen by enabling users to order and manage grocery shopping, connect with family and friends and access entertainment right from the comfort of their kitchen. Taking flexibility and functionality to a whole new level, the Family Hub 2.0 is entirely about helping consumers better manage, as well as enjoy, their lives.”

Samsung developed an entirely new interface for the second-gen Family Hub that allows users to create personal profiles to post on the fridge’s digital bulletin board, access updated calendars, share photos and write memos in real time from their smartphones.

In addition to the Family Hub upgrade, Samsung introduced its new line of smart built-in cooking appliances at CES 2017, which includes various double- and single-wall ovens; gas, electric and induction cooktops; and range hoods.

All of the built-in appliances are equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to remotely start, control and turn off their ovens and monitor their cooktop and range hood from their smartphone.