The SmartThings Station was unveiled earlier this year at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. The hub takes advantage of the new Matter interoperability standard for IoT devices to allow users to connect Matter-enabled smart home products via a single hub. The hub can connect non-Samsung devices so long as they are interoperable with Matter or Thread.
“When developing SmartThings Station, we focused on enabling more users to enjoy connecting various devices and experience a smart home without experiencing barriers to entry,” said product planner Kiyoung Kwon.
“When we initially planned the SmartThings Station, our goal was to create a product that would take center stage in your home rather than becoming a hassle that ends up in a corner.
“Our challenge was to design a product that not only served as a hub but also became a sought-after device for users.”
Kwon and his team tried to ensure good product usability by adding features such as wireless charging and a Find My Mobile feature.
“Developers have put a lot of thought into how IoT barriers to entry can be eliminated. That’s how the Smart Button came to be,” said Samsung’s Eugene Park, who developed the technology for SmartThings Station. “All users need to do is simply touch the Smart Button to quickly activate the automated routines that are already set up.”
Another feature they came up with to remove barriers to entry was a a “Calm Onboarding” strategy, which simplifies the process of setting up the hub for users.
“We’ve removed the inconvenience and hassle that users may encounter by simplifying the onboarding process. Users can register the product on the cloud and control it with a mobile device, in less than three steps,” said Kwon.
“On top of that, we’ve enabled users to activate the routines through three different touch methods – tap shortly, tap twice and tap for longer – so that they don’t have to open an app. Since users can activate various hub features while wireless charging, they can use the product for multiple purposes.”