Punta Cana.- Internationale Funkausstellung Berline (IFA), Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade fair held annually in Berlin, Germany, is celebrating its centenary this year. Launched in 1924 as an exhibition dedicated to radio, IFA has transformed over the course of a century into an impressive display of cutting-edge technology that shares a special bond with Samsung Electronics.
Household appliances and electronics have followed this evolution. What were once large and bulky machines have become highly advanced integrated devices and indispensable companions in everyday life.
Amidst this shift, Samsung has positioned itself to lead the next 100 years of innovation by seamlessly connecting mobile devices, TVs and home appliances through SmartThings1 – while offering greater control over devices thanks to updates to Bixby2, the company’s voice assistant that can now better understand complex commands based on natural language.
IFA 2024 kicks off on September 6 under the theme “Innovation for All.” Ahead of its grand opening, Samsung Newsroom looked back at IFA’s century-long journey of innovation and Samsung’s legacy of technological advancement.
From radio show to innovation hub for AI devices
In its early days, IFA served as a platform for the German government to showcase emerging radio technology in the 1920s. Albert Einstein even gave the inaugural address in 1930.
This marked the beginning of a series of developments, including the introduction of the world’s first car radio in 1932 and the first colour television in 1937. World War II interrupted the fair for several years in the 1940s, but technological progress continued. In 1971, the fair was renamed Internationale Funkausstellung to become IFA, as it is known to consumers today.
The evolution of household appliances has been equally extraordinary. Refrigerators and washing machines are no longer simple mechanical devices designed to reduce housework. Innovations in compressors and motors, along with advances in electronic components, smart features and connectivity, have turned these devices into sophisticated high-tech tools for modern life.
Samsung began exhibiting at IFA in 1991, showcasing monitors, PCs and other products on a modest 43-square-metre stand as the show expanded beyond radio and television to include digital multimedia devices. Twelve years later, in 2003, the company expanded its stand to a much larger 3,600-square-metre stand in prime Hall 20. Since 2014, Samsung has held exclusive occupancy of Berlin’s CityCube and is set to impress visitors again this year with its 6,000-square-metre stand.
Growing with IFA and leading the AI era with a connected ecosystem
Samsung’s presence at IFA has continued to grow as the company unveiled groundbreaking technologies in home appliances, TVs and mobile devices. In 2006, the tech giant introduced the Bordeaux TV, which cemented Samsung’s position as the global leader in the TV market. In 2011, the company introduced the industry’s first smart TV and the Galaxy Note, which ushered in the “phablet era” by blurring the line between smartphones and tablets.
Samsung introduced the world’s first curved UHD TV and the company’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, at IFA 2013. Three years later, in 2016, the launch of the Family Hub refrigerator with a large touchscreen marked the transition of home appliances into advanced Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
In 2014, Samsung had recognized the potential of connected experiences to revolutionize consumer lives and acquired SmartThings just a month before IFA 2014. Today, SmartThings has since grown over a decade into a massive, global ecosystem of over 340 partners and 350 million users.
At IFA 2018, Samsung highlighted AI as a key focus, noting that “connected living” would become a major trend in the electronics industry. The company unveiled 15 AI-powered home appliances at IFA 2023, ushering in the era of AI in home appliances. Last year, Samsung also introduced Samsung Food, an AI-powered food and recipe platform that connects home appliances, TVs, and mobile devices to deliver a personalized culinary experience tailored to each home and individual.
Samsung’s journey with IFA now looks towards innovations in controlling devices using more advanced voice commands. Basic machines designed to store food and wash clothes 100 years ago are evolving into smart companions that communicate with users verbally and manage complex household tasks with ease.
This transformation will be on display at Samsung’s booth in CityCube Berlin at Messe Berlin during IFA 2024 from September 6-10.
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