Samsung to enhance user interface points on smartphones

(Samsung Electronics)

Samsung Electronics Co. is developing a smartphone that aims to provide an optimized experience for each individual user in a move to eliminate the need for users to manually adjust settings, the South Korean tech giant said on Sunday.

“We are researching and developing features that enhance user interface points including the keyboard and camera, so that our smartphones can anticipate and execute what their users want in advance,” a Samsung Electronics official said. “Our goal is to create an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven environment where users can conveniently use their devices without the need for separate input or adjustments.”

Users will be able to give voice commands, instead of opening the settings menu, or the device will autonomously provide an optimized user environment based on its own analysis, according to the company.

Samsung also plans to integrate the automatic control mode of its Galaxy phones with its Internet of Things (IoT) platform ‘SmartThings,’ with an aim to manage not just mobile devices but also other home appliances and third-party gadgets automatically.

This will allow devices to adjust settings based on the user’s habits, time of day, weather, or location for optimal performance.

Users currently select modes like portrait or food photography in the camera app manually, for example, but AI will automatically analyze the subject or the user’s photo-taking habits and activate the best camera mode, whether for people, food, animals, or landscapes moving forward. Various camera settings, such as lighting, single take, and slow motion will also be determined by AI based on the shooting environment or controlled by the user’s voice.

AI-powered personalized functions are already being incorporated and commercialized in other Samsung digital devices. A prime example is the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which analyzes external and internal sounds, as well as the user’s wearing status in real time, to offer personalized equalizer settings and active noise cancellation (ANC).

Other global companies are also moving away from the practice of requiring users to enter the settings menu to change device control environments. Apple Inc. offers automatic device control, response, and security features through its voice AI assistant, Siri, as well as Face ID for facial recognition and the ‘Smart HDR’ function for photo processing.