The Connected Home Appliance Ecosystem: A Roadmap for Business and Technology Leaders

AHAM is bringing together home appliance business and technical leaders as they align their views on integrating connected home appliances into the smart home ecosystem. From home hubs and digital assistants, chips and modules, to predictive analytics, machine learning and the cloud, home appliance business leaders and technology manufacturers will discuss their visions of the smart home over the next 1-3 years.

This one-day summit will take place at the Central Park SF Hotel on Tuesday, Oct. 30. A welcome reception the evening of Oct. 29 will give attendees an opportunity to network with high-level business leaders from the appliance and technology sectors. This is the only conference on the smart home ecosystem designed by the appliance industry. AHAM hopes the absence of media or investor groups will create an environment for an exchange of ideas among those companies that are involved in every facet of the Internet of Things.

Registration & Breakfast – 8 to 9 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks and Summit Overview – 9 to 9:20 a.m.

John Taylor, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, LG Electronics USA Inc.

Sriram Gopal, Director of Technology and Environmental Policy, AHAM

Opening Address – 9:25 to 10:05 a.m.

Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President, Head of Product Innovation Team, Head of Content and Services, Samsung Electronics America

From chip making, to computing, to the manufacturing of devices, Samsung is involved throughout the supply chain that ultimately leads to connected appliances. Mr. Lee will offer his thoughts on how each of these elements develop over the next one to three years, as well as the interplay between advances in information technology and appliance design. He will also discuss how the Internet of Things may change the appliance industry and how those changes will affect and ultimately benefit the average consumer.

Panel 1: Rethinking ROI In An IoT World – 10:10 to 11:15 a.m.

Moderator & Panelists to be Announced

Development of IoT appliances will change the traditional calculus companies make with respect to Return on Investment. ROI is generally treated as a purely economic calculation, but IoT will change the relationship between appliance manufacturers and consumers. A panel of representatives from AHAM member companies will discuss how brand reputation, customer engagement/loyalty, and data collection are all being incorporated into the new definition of ROI.

Break – 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Keynote Address: The Future of Smart Hubs – 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Michele Turner, Senior Director, Google Smart Home Ecosystem

Science fiction movies and TV shows often use voice assistants to drive exposition and act as a convenient plot device. While we may be a ways off from "Star Trek," we're closer than you think to having a command center for our homes that's directed by your voice. Whether it's controlling the lights, ordering food, or enjoying your favorite TV show, the proliferation of assistants, smart speakers, display devices and all the myriad of devices that work with them is bringing us closer to the 'future'. Michele Turner, head of Smart Home Ecosystem for Nest + Google Home, will give her thoughts on how assistants, speakers, smart devices and appliances fit into the vision of the smart home, along with the challenges and possibilities that entails.

Lunch – 12:15 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.

Lunch time speakers

The Journey to Connectivity - Consumer Research Presentation – 1:05 to 1:35 p.m.

Kevin Hare, Vice President, DIG Insights

Break – 1:35 to 1:45 p.m.

Panel 2: Developments in Component and Connectivity Technologies – 1:45 to 3 p.m.

Moderator: Mike Ballard, Manager, Home Automation and Security, Microchip Technology

Joseph Bousaba, Vice President, Smart Home & Consumer Businesses, IoT, Qualcomm

Sami Nassar, Vice President, Cyber Security Technologies, NXP Semiconductors

Stuart McLaren, IoT Marketing Manager, Americas Region, STM Electronics

Jay Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager, Home Appliance Solutions, Renesas

Moore’s Law, which states that the computing power of microchips doubles roughly every two years, is still in effect. In this panel, technical experts from the various levels of IoT will discuss this ongoing increase in computing power and the features it might enable in connected appliances. This panel will tie together many elements within the stack of technologies required for IoT, including device components (chips, sensors, etc.), network infrastructure, and mobile applications.

Panel 3: Developments in Computing Technologies – 3:05 to 4:10 p.m.

Moderator: Prashanth Shetty, VP of Global Marketing, Ayla Networks

Kishore Manghnanni, Co-Founder & CEO, Shoreline IOT

Michael Kuptz, GM of IoT Device Experiences, Microsoft

Said Ouissal, CEO and Founder, Zededa

The “cloud” is a term heard everywhere these days, and the rise of cloud computing has changed the way technology functions. As processors become more powerful, manufacturers must make a determination of whether their devices’ computing takes place in the cloud or at the “edge.” A panel of experts will look at the pros/cons of the various computing paradigms and give their thoughts on how they impact the functionality of home appliances.

Break – 4:10 to 4:25 p.m.

A Conversation On Predictive Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Appliances – 4:25 to 5:15 p.m.

Andy Chinmulgund, Chief Executive Officer, Bruviti

Mohammed Ansari, General Manager and Senior Vice President, LG Silicon Valley Lab

One area of potential in IoT lies with the massive amount of data that will be collected, allowing for appliance adaptability and for manufacturers to utilize predictive analytics. The two experts will discuss how this data might be used to create a better customer experience with respect to home appliances.

Wrap-up & Closing – 5:15 to 5:30 p.m.