[Interview] How Samsung’s Neo QLED is Bringing About Next-Level Watching Experiences
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By STF News
Samsung Electronics firmly believes in the power of technology to create a more inclusive world. When it comes to design, accessibility should be top of mind ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully enjoy the benefits of modern innovations. Traditional television can present challenges when accessing and comprehending visual content. However, through the use of visual aid features, Samsung is helping bridge the gap and providing an immersive and enjoyable viewing experience for all.
Relumino Mode, a viewing mode on select Samsung TVs, was designed to augment the visual capabilities of those with low vision, making it possible for anyone to engage with their favorite shows, movies and documentaries like never before. By highlighting specific parts of videos — such as contrast, color and sharpness — this feature makes it easier than ever to discern content on the TV screen.
To shed more light on this groundbreaking inclusive technology, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Dr. Kyungah Park and Jason (Jaeseong) Park from Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics, to discuss everything from development to clinical trials.
▲ Jason Park (Samsung Electronics) and Kyungah Park, M.D. (Samsung Medical Center) discuss their journeys in creating and clinically testing Relumino Mode
Screens for All — Including People With Impaired Vision
Relumino, borrowed from Latin, means “to give back the light.” The idea is to restore vision as much as possible to people with impaired vision. Earlier this year at CES, Samsung introduced Relumino Mode on select Samsung TVs. This follows the wearable device “Relumino Glass” and the smartphone image processing software “Relumino App,” each revealed at CES in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Before that, Relumino was conceived in “C-Lab(Creative Lab),” Samsung Electronics’ in-house venture program. It has evolved and expanded ever since.
▲ Relumino Glass(left) and Relumino Mode for Samsung TVs(right)
“For several years, ‘Screens for All’ has been one of the key mottos for us. We’re working to further enhance TV accessibility and promote inclusion,” said Jason Park, who plans products and services for the Visual Display Business. “People with low vision are still a key demographic that need better TV viewing experiences.”
Innovation Rooted in the User’s Perspective
To develop Relumino Mode, planners and engineers met with a number of advisors who had visual impairments to understand their wants and needs.
▲ Jason Park, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics
“There’s an early experience that really changed my perspective,” shared Jason. “When we first met an advisor for Relumino Mode, I asked him to ‘Please come here and have a seat’ to which he replied, ‘Where is here?’ That was a hard and clear wake-up call for me. I was so embarrassed.” It was then that Jason realized that they were exploring a totally new territory and would have to first understand the way their users see the world.
▲ As part of the efforts to understand customers with visual impairments, Samsung engineers used special goggles to simulate blurry vision
Despite the decades of collective experience in enhancing TV picture quality, this particular project presented a unique challenge that none of the engineers had encountered before. Typically, their expertise lay in identifying even the slightest imperfections on the screen, but now they had to understand what it’s like as a user to have impaired vision. In addition to consulting advisors, the engineers utilized special goggles that simulated blurry vision, serving as a starting point for their exploration. Through a process of generating ideas, conducting trials and learning from mistakes, they eventually developed a solution that could be considered a genuinely effective viewing mode.
Clinical Trials and Direct Feedback
After initial research and development came trials on a larger scale. This is where Samsung Electronics decided to collaborate with Samsung Medical Center, one of South Korea’s most comprehensive medical facilities.
▲Dr. Kyungah Park, Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center
“Clinical trials targeting people without disabilities are popular and recruiting subjects for these projects is relatively easy. Some even ask to join before we ask,” said Dr. Park. “But, that was not the case for the Relumino study. The pool was much more limited as we were more strict with our requirements — we targeted people who have lower vision than WHO’s vision impairment criteria.”
However, the people that Samsung contacted showed much passion for the project. “Many who joined the trials were very excited and didn’t mind traveling long distances for the study. Thanks to their support and encouragement, we were able to carry out the research,” Dr. Park added.
Four 55-inch Samsung QLED TVs were featured in the tests. One displayed the control image with no picture enhancements at all. The other three TVs showed the same content with Relumino Mode on high, medium and low. The TVs were installed on a meter away from each other onw a wall in a room with a specified amount of light.
The test was two-fold, with objective and subjective evaluations. A certified contrast sensitivity test was employed for the objective evaluation. For the subjective evaluations, participants were asked to examine a set of eight still images and two videos on each of the screens. Their satisfaction levels were measured on a scale of 0 to 10. Based on the results, researchers carried out additional interviews adjusting picture enhancement levels on the spot.
▲ A blurry vision goggle simulation of what Relumino Mode may look like to people with visual impairment
Relumino mode was well received by the group. One of the participants highly praised the technology, saying “I was thrilled to see the ball in a soccer match on screen. It can get frustrating if you can’t see the ball because of low vision, as you can imagine. Relumino Mode helped me see the ball clearly.”
“The subjects’ responses indicated the Mode’s subjective results while the contrast sensitivity testing showed its objective results. Both of these factors, combined, allowed us to find the optimal setting for a brilliant image on TV,” said Jason.
Screens for All, Today and Tomorrow
“While [the Relumino Mode] project focused on people with relatively severe visual impairment many people with slightly lighter symptoms still need help. I’d like to work on developing projects for them,” explained Dr. Park.
Jason shared a similar point of view, saying, “Samsung will continue to advance technology in the long term to provide personalized picture quality for people with vision impairment and let them enjoy TV comfortably.” Samsung remains committed to accessibility and strives to leverage its technologies to enable more people do what they enjoy.
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By STF News
To enjoy their favorite content to the fullest, more and more consumers are seeking to purchase larger TVs for their homes. According to market research firm Omdia, the global market size of 85-inch screens has grown drastically from 180,000 units sold in 2019 to 1.87 million units sold in 2022. Likewise, for 98-inch screens, the global market has increased from less than 1,000 units sold in 2019 to about 160,000 units sold in 2022.
To discuss the shifting market trends towards ultra-large TVs, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Heejin Chae, TV Product Planning, Samsung Electronics, and Sangyeob Kim, Samsung Store, and learned more about how Samsung Electronics is providing revamped viewing experiences through ultra-large TVs.
▲ People in charge of product planning, sales and design talk about ultra-large 98-inch TVs
Bigger, Better Viewing Experiences With Wider TVs
With its breathtaking size able to display exceptional detail on a grander scale, the 98-inch TV has become the new standard for ultra-large TVs. In line with such trends, Samsung unveiled the 2023 98-inch Neo QLED 8K at CES 2023, offering consumers bright colors and extremely vivid details on a brilliantly large screen. As standard TV sizes have grown larger over the years, Samsung adapted to industry trends and consumer demands by developing ultra-large TVs for better viewing experiences.
“About ten years ago, a 60-inch TV was considered a large TV. But as time went by, 65-inch TVs became mainstream, and now 75-inch and 85-inch TVs have become popular, demonstrating consumers’ growing demand for larger TVs,” said Chae. “In fact, our customer survey showed that 75% of consumers bought, on average, a TV 13 inches bigger than their previously purchased TV model.”
▲ Heejin Chae explains how evolving consumer demands have shaped Samsung’s product offerings.
Additionally, with the popularity of streaming services, consumers are increasingly purchasing ultra-large TVs to enhance their at-home viewing experiences. “An astronomical number of people have started using streaming services since the pandemic as they increasingly consumed content like movies and sports,” said Chae. “As a result, the demand for ultra-large TVs has risen, as they give a more immersive viewing experience.”
Younger generations also seem to prefer larger screens, furthering the popularity of ultra-large TVs. While people in their 40s and 50s made up more than half of the consumer base who purchased TVs over 80 inches in 2015, those in their 30s and 40s have led sales in the ultra-large TV market since 2021.
As these factors and preferences become more prevalent among users, the ultra-large TV market will continue to grow. “The ultra-large TV is an inevitable trend, and consumers are ready to enjoy extremely large TVs,” Chae said.
Comfortable Viewing at Further Distances
One of the biggest concerns when buying an ultra-large TV is the viewing distance — how far away the viewer is from the TV and whether that space is available at home. “As the viewing distance of the 98-inch NEO QLED TV has been shortened compared to previous ultra-large TVs, viewers can comfortably watch from as close as 4 meters away,“ said Kim.
▲ Sangyeob Kim discusses how the viewing distance of a TV affects the viewing experience.
“We created a space in the store with a sofa to simulate the viewing distance at home. We move the sofa to help customers gauge the viewing distance for smaller and larger rooms. Once the customers get a feel of how the TV would fit in their homes, they tend to prefer the larger models,” Kim added.
While some may have concerns about the large size of the TV, Kim explained that many consumers wish they had bought a larger size after opting for a smaller screen. “I’ve had customers call me after they had their TVs installed, asking if they can return their purchase for a larger one. That really puts me on the spot,” Kim stated. “Some even said they received the wrong TV size, claiming their TV seemed too small.”
When asked about delivery and installation, Kim explained that Samsung has worked diligently to ensure customers can receive their products easily in the comfort of their homes. “98 inches is the largest TV size that a standard Korean apartment elevator can accommodate. And when the elevator is too small, we offer other optimized delivery and installation services based on the customer’s environment,” Kim explained. “In fact, we even once successfully installed a TV after climbing a spiral ladder at a two-story house.”
“We thoroughly communicate with our customers and closely look at various factors in advance, such as whether it is possible to place the ultra-large TV on a table or wall mount it,” Kim added.
From Viewing to Experience: Changing the Living Room Culture
As TVs at home provide diverse content such as games, sports, movies and fitness content, the role TVs play has changed. As immersion is a top priority for many consumers, the popularity of large TVs is likely to continue as many consumers seek TVs that provide breathtaking experiences for all types of content.
▲ (From left) Heejin Chae, TV Product Planning, Samsung Electronics, and Sangyeob Kim, Samsung Store
“Hands-on experience is necessary to show people how great a large TV is,” said Kim. “As a TV is usually the main design focal point in a room, I recommend experiencing it in person.”
“When my acquaintances ask for advice about what TV to purchase, I first ask them what kind of activities they would do with their TV,” said Chae. “A larger display gives a more immersive experience. If users continue to utilize TVs for multiple purposes — including video calls, home training, gaming, etc. — ultra-large TVs will continue to be popular.”
“TVs help shape the living room culture, so purchasing a new set is like an investment for the next 10 years. We will continue to focus on these aspects as we plan for future TV products. I believe Samsung TVs will continue to be at the center of home entertainment,” Chae stated.
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By STF News
Samsung Electronics introduced a new free-to-play “Gaming Zone” with Samsung screens in collaboration with Xbox at Microsoft Experience Centers (MEC) in London and New York.
In June of 2022, Microsoft’s Xbox joined Samsung Gaming Hub,1 the world’s first smart TV platform to include the Xbox App on Smart TVs.2 With this partnership, Samsung Gaming Hub users are now able to stream over 100 high-quality games through the Xbox App by subscribing to “Xbox Game Pass”.
▲ Visitors can play the Minecraft Legend at the Cloud Gaming Zone in London
To bring the experience to more gamers, Samsung Electronics has teamed up with Microsoft to introduce a dedicated space where gamers can play their favorite Xbox games on the Samsung Gaming Hub. Multiple Samsung Smart TVs and gaming monitors have been installed in the MEC to provide an exciting and unique gaming experience.
The Gaming Zone in both London and New York City across the Microsoft Experience Centers on Regent Street and Fifth Avenue, now have three dedicated gaming areas incorporating a wide range of Samsung gaming screens3 for everyone to enjoy — either as a seasoned gamer or those new to cloud gaming.
▲ The Living Room Zone in London features three 98-inch Neo QLED 4K HDR Smart TVs
The three gaming areas are:
Cloud Gaming Zone — featuring 55-inch Neo QLED Smart TVs for game streaming via the Samsung Gaming Hub. Visitors can instantly play the biggest games from Xbox and other top gaming partners with no downloads, storage limits or console required. Just switch on your TV and play. Living Room Zone — showcasing three 98-inch Neo QLED 4K HDR Smart TVs in London and an 85-inch Neo QLED 8K TV at the store entrance in New York. Tournament Zone — with 24-inch Odyssey G3 Gaming Monitors (London) and 27-inch Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitors (New York) that give gamers the option to play games on Xbox Game Pass or Xbox console, providing flexibility for all gamers.
Powered by Tizen, the Samsung Gaming Hub is an all-in-one game streaming discovery platform bridging hardware and software for a better player experience. Instantly play thousands of games from Xbox, Amazon Luna, NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Utomik, with Antstream Arcade and Blacknut coming in 2023.4
The Samsung Gaming Hub is the new home for gaming and entertainment with Twitch, Spotify and YouTube Gaming integration that gives players easy access to enhance their experience. No storage limits, no downloads, no console or PC required — all players need is a Bluetooth-enabled gaming controller and an internet connection to start playing.
▲ Gamers can compete simultaneously at the Tournament Zone in London
“It is a great pleasure to work with Microsoft to deliver the impressive experience of Samsung Gaming Hub to global gamers,” said Sangsook Han, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung Gaming Hub has been incorporated into Samsung Smart TVs and monitors demonstrating the evolution of the Samsung screen experience. Samsung will continue to advance this incredible service to attract global gamers by expanding its partnerships and innovative technology.”
From London to New York, Samsung Gaming Hub is inspiring and connecting global gamers in new and exciting ways. In its collaboration with partners such as Microsoft, Samsung Electronics is helping to create next-level gaming experiences by leveraging its advanced Smart TVs and monitors in Microsoft Experience Centers.
▲ Samsung Electronics introduced a new free-to-play “Gaming Zone” with Samsung screens in collaboration with Xbox at Microsoft Experience Centers (MEC) in London and New York
▲ Visitors can instantly play the biggest games from Xbox and other top gaming partners with no downloads, storage limits or console required
▲ Gamers at the Tournament Zone in London
1 Samsung Gaming Hub is only available in select countries: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, the U.S. and the U.K. In other European countries, cloud gaming apps can be downloaded from the TV App Store and accessed through the Samsung Smart Hub. Service and content availability may vary by region and partners.
2 As of 2023 new models, Samsung Gaming Hub is supported by Samsung Smart TV models above CU7000, Smart monitors and Odyssey gaming monitors with smart features.
3 Installation products in London MEC include three 98-type Neo QLED 4K (QN90A), six 55-type Neo QLED 4K (QN95B) and 12 24-type Odyssey G3 (G32A). Two additional Odyssey Ark will be installed within May. Installation products in New York City MEC include one 85-type Neo QLED 8K (QN800B), four 55-type Neo QLED 4K (QN85B) and 10 27-type Odyssey G5 (G55A).
4 Service availability for partners may vary by region. Service subscription can be required by partners.
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By STF News
Luxury hotels and resorts around the world are looking for ways to differentiate the guest experience. Hotel signage and displays play an important role in premium travel as they provide unique aesthetics throughout the premises and intensify the dimensionality of the space while communicating key information to guests.
Atlantis The Royal, the new ultra-luxury experiential resort in Dubai, just announced its grand opening in 2023. Atlantis The Royal raises the bar for resorts everywhere, providing unrivaled experiences for guests amplified by Samsung Electronics’ cutting-edge display technology. From the lobby to the most luxurious suite, Atlantis The Royal and Samsung have collaborated to provide a fresh perspective on premium travel with an unparalleled guest experience.
“Atlantis The Royal has set new boundaries in terms of architecture, and Samsung has played a key role in that feat,” said Anthony Lynsdale, Vice President of Information Technology, Atlantis The Royal. “We’ve leveraged Samsung’s LED solutions and curated specific content, from the fish tanks in the lobby to the journey into the spa, which has really elevated the guest experience.”
Take a look below for an exclusive tour of Atlantis The Royal with Samsung.
Creating a Lasting First Impression With Scenes of the Ocean
Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted by three towering fish tanks. Fish swim in front of crystal-clear visuals, made possible by Samsung Smart LED signage (6m x 8.5m, 7.5m x 6m, 6m x 6.5m) hanging behind the tanks. This innovative display with unique and stunning visuals sets the tone for staying at the Atlantis The Royal, providing an experience unlike any other.
Because the content of the aquarium displays can be changed, Atlantis The Royal is able to create different moods for guests. This flexibility helps the resort produce the right atmosphere for any occasion, from the middle of the day to VIP events at night.
▲ An awe-inspiring sight greets resort guests, made possible by Samsung LED signage behind the lobby fish tanks.
▲ An underwater vista on Samsung LED signage makes the resort lobby a unique, unforgettable space for guests.
Elevating Every Space With Versatile Signage and Displays
When visiting the rooftop infinity pool, called Cloud 22, guests are met with unbeatable views of Dubai and the Arabian Sea. Thanks to its high visibility, Samsung Outdoor LED Signage shines brightly even under the strong Dubai sunlight, and is used to light up the nighttime party beside the DJ booth, providing a one-of-a-kind ambiance.
▲ Samsung Outdoor LED signage sets the mood on the rooftop infinity pool, no matter how bright the Dubai sun shines.
▲ For parties, sunbathing or splashing in the pool, outdoor LED signage displays vivid images in any lighting.
When visiting the spa to relax and unwind, guests are welcomed into the space by an enormous, curved LED screen from Samsung. The display illuminates the walk-in with LED HDR technology, showing crystal-clear scenes with brilliant colors and adding dimensions to the space.
▲ The curved LED screen guides guests into serenity with vivid colors and visuals that feel real.
The Most Immersive Display Meets the Most Luxurious Room
▲ Take a sneak peek at The Royal Mansion at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai (and The Wall in it)
For the utmost experience at Atlantis The Royal, guests can retire to The Royal Mansion, the most luxurious suite in the resort. Measuring 146 inches with 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution, Samsung’s “The Wall” is installed in the mansion’s cinema room, delivering a fully immersive cinematic experience that makes your stay unforgettable. The sleek, modern design of “The Wall” blends seamlessly into the room’s chic and sophisticated interior, combining the highest quality technology and the most luxurious hospitality into one breathtaking experience.
▲ The Wall makes movies more impactful in The Royal Mansion’s cinema room with its 146-inch screen.
Optimizing Every Occasion With High-Quality Signage
▲ Samsung displays provide upgraded visual experiences throughout the entire resort, including collaboration tools in the business meeting rooms, inspiring images in the yoga studio and in-room Samsung hospitality displays.
Atlantis The Royal makes every guest feel like royalty. For business travelers, the executive meeting rooms feature Samsung interactive displays to maximize productivity and collaboration for visiting professionals. For those who aim to travel with their wellness intact, the resort’s gym has sky-high ceilings for an elevated workout experience, featuring an impressive display from Samsung in the yoga studio. The display’s content motivates guests with crisp clarity and true-to-life color representation.
After exploring the property, guests can return to their rooms to unwind. All 795 rooms in the resort are equipped with Samsung’s hospitality displays to ensure every guest can be comfortable and immersed in their favorite content.
Samsung and Atlantis The Royal have brought new creative concepts to life through this collaboration, delivering an unmatched luxury experience for guests while redefining the future of hospitality.
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By STF News
Samsung Electronics has announced the release of the Odyssey Universe, a new customized map created for gamers to experience in Fortnite,1 based on the premium Odyssey series of monitors from Samsung.
The Odyssey Universe is a new in-game experience expressing how the industry-leading Samsung Odyssey monitor lineup helps gamers deliver on the promise of next-generation games.
“We are happy to introduce the Odyssey’s own customized gaming experience along with fun in one of the most popular game around the world.” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to introduce the industry-leading Odyssey lineup and raise the awareness of our gaming monitors by providing new, exciting experiences and events.”
The Odyssey Universe features each space inspired by the main product name of the Odyssey lineup. The permanent new map is divided into 5 spaces, each of them inspired by and representing an industry-leading entry in the Odyssey monitor lineup. It ranges from the Level Ark, which is derived from the “Odyssey Ark” providing a new frontier of immersion with the 55-inch large screen, to Level G9∙G8∙G7∙G6 in line with products such as Odyssey Neo G9 and G8. Each space will have its own mission for players to clear, with a variety of objectives and rewards during gameplay.
Tune Into the Debut of the Odyssey Universe on Twitch
Kicking off the release of Odyssey Universe, gamers can tune into some of their favorite streamers to see the maps in action on the official Samsung Odyssey Twitch channel with following streamers:
SypherPK (634.6M followers) NickEh30 (435.5M followers) Date: March 23 at 2PM (EST)
The streamers will show off the new map’s exciting gameplay, fill in viewers on how they can explore the map themselves and how they can get exclusive deals on Odyssey monitors.
Join in the Odyssey Universe Scavenger Hunt
The fun doesn’t end even after the stream ends. Until March 29, players have an extra reason to jump into the Odyssey Universe beyond the map’s thrilling gameplay. Players can participate in the “Scavenger Hunt” event to explore the Odyssey Universe map and find hidden answers in each of the spaces. Once gamers figure out the answers, they can submit them at the Odyssey Universe event website to be eligible to enter into a sweepstakes. The winners of the sweepstakes will receive Odyssey gaming monitors and will be announced on the Samsung Odyssey Twitch channel on March 30 at 7PM (EST).
Gamers can get ready for the launch of Odyssey Universe by visiting the website to get the latest information and find details on the “Scavenger Hunt”.
1 This is an independently created Fortnite Creative experience and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Epic Games, Inc.
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