The Kid’s User Experience

Samsung has taken a holistic approach to creating a child-friendly digital environment with Kids Mode, an entire interface designed for kids, available on their smartphones and tablets.

Kids Mode gives parents flexible control over the apps, videos, music and other content that a child can access. After downloading and installing the app, parents can set up a PIN and a profile for their child and select different controls and restrictions for each profile created. They can also limit how long a child spends on a device each day and monitor their daily activity by app.

With a simplified user interface in Kids Mode, kids can enjoy a color-rich environment, with large buttons and uncomplicated controls to heighten the fun. The exclusive native apps capture the spirit of play and are easily recognizable by their titles and icon buttons, each featuring one or more of the mode’s four cartoon characters: Crocro, Cooki, Bobby and Lisa. The apps are both a digital playground, and an opportunity for children to gain digital literacy. Crocro Adventure, for example, introduces children to basic concepts of coding, harnessing the power of storytelling to keep young minds engaged.

Exploring the Wonderful World of Apps

In addition to these native apps, Samsung has optimized Kids Mode for approximately 2,500 more child-friendly third-party apps for learning and play, available for download via Galaxy Apps for Kids. Partnerships with some of the world’s most popular content providers, such as LEGO®^*, are sure to amuse, while other local partners such as ABC Mouse (US) and Kakao Kids (KR) have also joined them.

Galaxy Apps for Kids organizes apps by age group or category, for easy browsing of appropriate content. What’s more, to prevent little hands from making unintentional purchases, downloads are protected and must be authorized with the parent PIN code.

TV Support for Child-Friendly Media Platforms

As TVs become smarter and access to web-based content and streaming services becomes even more convenient, parents are eager to discover age-appropriate content that can be streamed on the TV screen. Since 2013, Samsung Smart TVs that can access the Samsung App Store have offered support for the YouTube Kids app^**, a platform that lets kids browse easily, with bigger buttons, simpler scrolling and content divided into four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore. Support for LEGO® TV^** is also provided, allowing kids to stream their favorite LEGO® episodes on a TV, with convenient navigation organized by themes, stories and ages.

By developing smart, kid-friendly features and devices, such as Kids Mode, Galaxy Apps for Kids, Samsung Kids and support for age-appropriate TV apps, Samsung will continue its efforts to create a fun, educational and safe environment for kids.

* Availability may vary by location.

** Language and availability may vary by location.

Open to the general public, the living lab and digital playground featuring numerous installations and touchpoints comprise three floors and include, a one-of-kind digital screen, auditorium seating for performances and special events, a Gallery featuring curated content experiences, a broadcast studio, and much more.  The state-of-the-art building is a creative expression of Samsung’s brand and will serve as home for the marketing center of excellence, executive briefing center and a new customer care center designed to offer one-on-one service to Samsung owners.

“We set out to build a marketing center of excellence,” said Gregory Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America. “We immediately thought of New York City, where the best marketing happens and where people have a finger on the pulse of culture. As a result, we have and will continue to attract top talent from around the world.”

Samsung 837 also provides an opportunity for the public to experience Samsung technology, signature services and culture through special events. Samsung is partnering with its neighbors in the Meatpacking District, like the Whitney Museum of American Art, as well as, artists, scientists, thought leaders and others, driving culture today to create compelling programming. The building will also serve the community as a center for supporting great causes.

“At Samsung, we have a proven track record of innovation, and with Samsung 837, we are creating the flagship of the future,” said Zach Overton, Vice President and General Manager of Samsung 837.  “Reimagining the traditional store experience, 837 is a fully immersive cultural center, featuring programming which will tap into people’s passions such art, music, entertainment, sports, wellness, culinary, technology and fashion, all powered and enriched by technology.”

Samsung 837, An Experiential Playground

Blurring the lines between live and static experiences, Samsung 837 presents dynamic, immersive programming powered by technology that will continually evolve to reflect pop culture and important cultural moments such as awards shows, national sporting events, worldwide concert tours, and much more.

To mark the opening of the flagship, ABC’s Good Morning America will be broadcasting live, exclusively at Samsung 837. In the first two weeks of opening, Samsung 837 will feature exclusive programming including live DJs, Oscar-nominated movie screenings (The Martian, Inside Out, Shaun the Sheep and Cinderella), and a private Oscar viewing party. With Samsung+, the free mobile app exclusive to Galaxy owners, users have fast access to live tech support, and additional perks available at Samsung 837 including access to premium events and experiences.

Samsung 837 is a haven for unique, ongoing programming with interactive opportunities, including:

• Customer Care: Samsung Techies offer one-on-one, concierge-like service to help Samsung owners, and Samsung Guides lead workshops for new and existing users to learn how to get the most out of Samsung products and services. In addition, Guides are on hand to support the visitor journey through the space.
• Screen & Mainstage: Considered the world’s largest multimedia display a giant digital screen is made from 96 55-inch visual displays, standing in front of a stadium-seating theater, and will be programmed with content ranging from live streams, demos and showcases, to panels and presentations, and screenings.
• The Gallery: A space that will feature regularly commissioned technology-based art installations. The launch will feature “Social Galaxy,” a hyper immersive and mind-bending exploration of social identity by experiential design studio Black Egg. This installation brings new perspective to who we are as individuals and social beings.
• VR Tunnel: A first of its kind immersive experience where attendees can ‘step into’ a virtual world and be transported anywhere. The experience will feature ongoing curated content around themes like travel, sports and family, or special events like festivals, sports and music, and demonstrations on Samsung’s Gear VR including a 4D VR experience.
• Studio: The visually stunning, open radio, music and DJ studio, encased in a see-through cube, serves as an interactive hosting space for radio and podcast curators, DJ sets, live recordings, celebrity interviews and more.
• Kitchen: Experience a next-gen culinary environment with chef demonstrations of new Samsung technology, workshops and cooking showcases.

• Playroom: A dedicated space for family-friendly activities including classes and workshops, games, special events and activities, and a place where people can share their interests and engage with the environment. Consumers will also have the opportunity to create their own customized cases in the Playroom area.
• Living Room: Get cozy in this stress-free zone, where consumers can experience Samsung technology and signature services in a smart home environment, as well as enjoy hosted activities, and more.
• Café: Curated by Smorgasburg and featuring Stand Coffee, the Café features hot and cold beverages, breakfast and lunch selections, as well as a variety of sweet treats from purveyors of the popular food market.

B2B Experience:  A state-of-the-art executive briefing center designed to deliver curated and customized experiences for the B2B community; providing the latest technologies and innovations to customers for use in solving real business problems with their own customers. 

Cause and Community

Samsung 837 is right at home in the Meatpacking District, a place of cultural vibrance, renowned for being a hub of activity, creativity, trend and forward thinking.  With 837, Samsung plans to make a positive contribution to the Meatpacking District and larger city of New York, through partnership and access, together with neighborhood businesses, that help further enrich the community. Samsung’s commitment as a positive and responsible corporate citizen reflects a purpose that defines success not only in business but in doing good across the U.S. – from local neighborhoods to cities nationwide. Local partnerships are already in place with:

• Rag & Bone – the New York-based fashion label to design wardrobe elements for the staff at Samsung 837.
• Smorgasburg – the Brooklyn-based open-air market to curate the Samsung 837 café menu featuring breakfast and lunch selections, as well as a variety of sweet treats from purveyors of the popular food market including Rubyzaar, Ovenly, Big Mozz, Good Stock, Dough, and more.
• Stand Coffee – the local specialty coffee company to provide hot and cold beverages for the café.
• Black Egg and Kenzo Digital – the New York-based experiential design studio founded by artist/director Kenzo Digital and creative technologist Lucas Werthein.  Black Egg specializes in immersive storytelling in physical spaces utilizing cutting edge technologies.

About Samsung 837
Located at 837 Washington Street in New York City’s Meatpacking District, Samsung 837 is the first of its kind technology playground and cultural destination for consumers, creators, tech enthusiasts and community members. A physical manifestation of the Samsung Brand, 837 is a flagship experience center at the convergence of humanity and technology that underscores how Samsung’s full portfolio of signature services and technology – ranging from mobile devices to home appliances – can make your life better.