At the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco, the company introduced new initiatives tied to its latest smartphones, the Galaxy Watch 5 and other connected devices. Samsung also revealed plans for personalization enabled by its One UI 5, the updated user interface that will be made available later this month. Security and privacy were also on the agenda. The company announced it is developing a method to keep IoT smart devices secure by putting them on the blockchain. Samsung Knox Matrix will feature a private blockchain system to help protect Galaxy devices, TV sets and smart home appliances while securely sharing login credentials.

“Samsung is vague about how it will all work but says Knox Matrix protects the smart home ecosystem with ‘multi-layered mutual monitoring,’” reports The Verge. “The company also claims Knox Matrix can share credentials from one device to another while securing the information shared between them to make logins more convenient without reducing security.”

“With Knox Matrix in your back, a smartphone steaming to a TV or connected to an air conditioner makes your life more convenient and more secured,” claims Samsung in its announcement.

According to the company, its system — which expands upon Samsung’s existing Knox platform — features a unified security SDK across operating systems such as Android, Tizen and others. Samsung did not say when the new Knox Matrix would be released.

Meanwhile, the company announced that feedback from its One UI Beta program launched in August has helped shape the new One UI 5 experience. The interface “focuses on personalized mobile experiences,” notes TechRepublic. “Icons are bolder and simpler, notifications can be read at a glance, and the pop-up call display has been redesigned.”

Among the additional updates are Bixby Text Call, which enables users to answer phone calls by simply typing (Bixby will translate the text to audio, ideal for a noisy environment) — and Routine, which allows users to transition between modes based on customized settings to reflect their activities (think morning routine or work routine, for example).

Samsung emphasized its health initiatives and a new API for adjusting fall detection sensitivity on the Galaxy Watch through the Galaxy Wearable app. Developers can also use algorithms to help measure activities or falls by combining sensors such as an accelerometer and gyroscope.

“Samsung Health and Fitbit also adopted Health Connect,” reports TechRepublic. “This platform provides centralized privacy controls, making it easier for users to grant or deny permissions to health and fitness apps. Health Connect also works in the fitness apps Leap Fitness, MyFitnessPal and Withings.”

Additionally, Samsung has teamed with eye-tracking firm Tobii for the Privileged Health SDK that “can identify early driver fatigue and stress signs and determine the user’s level of drowsiness while on the road by sensing real-time heart rate levels through the Galaxy Watch.”

For additional information and videos of keynotes and tech sessions, visit the SDC22 site.

Related Releases:
Samsung Showcases Evolution of SmartThings and Introduces New Device Experiences at SDC22, Samsung, 10/13/22
SDC22 Keynote: Samsung Electronics Shares its Vision for the Homes and Devices of Tomorrow, Samsung, 10/13/22
Samsung Further Expands Health and Wellness Ecosystem With Even More Connected and Diverse Health Services, Samsung, 10/12/22