The vivid colors of a garden in full bloom, a landscape at sunset – colors give depth and interest to everyday experiences. But these aren’t experiences that everyone can enjoy in the same way. People with normal vision can usually perceive millions of color shades, while those suffering from CVD can only see a few thousand, and colorblind people only see a few hundred.

Some 300 million people are affected by Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) – the inability to recognize the full spectrum of color seen by people with normal vision. For those who suffer from CVD, it can affect lifestyle, and in some cases, it can limit a person’s ability to pursue his or her dreams. To help those affected, Samsung has created a solution that can help CVD sufferers as part of its “Launching People” campaign – Samsung’s global brand campaign that started in 2013 to show how Samsung technologies enrich people’s lives.

Samsung has partnered with Colorlite, a Hungarian company that manufactures the innovative Colorlite color correction glasses, on an app that identifies CVD. Called SeeColors*, it can then adjust compatible TVs to allow viewers with CVD to enjoy a better viewing experience with more optimized colors.

The SeeColors app works on smartphones and Tizen-based TVs to first identify the type and level of CVD of the user. It then connects to Samsung Smart TVs to recalibrate the screen based on the user’s specific CVD tests. By creating the solution with Colorlite, Samsung can apply the technology for the first time to TVs and smartphones. With Samsung’s market leadership in both smartphones and TVs, it is a partnership that’s producing fantastic results. The SeeColors app partnership is a huge development that will help make TV entertainment more inclusive than ever—for all vision abilities.

The SeeColors Smart TV application is pre-installed on every 2016 Samsung SUHD TV, while the mobile app is available in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria via Google Play and the Galaxy App Store for Samsung Galaxy smartphones**.

To find out more about #SeeColors, please visit the following:

• Hungary: http://www.samsung.com/hu/launchingpeople/
• Romania: http://www.samsung.com/ro/launchingpeople/
• Bulgaria: http://www.samsung.com/bg/launchingpeople/

* This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or medical problem. Any information found, acquired or accessed through this app is made available for your convenience and should not be treated as medical advice.
** #SeeColors mobile app is downloadable to the following Samsung Galaxy smartphones: S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ and S7, S7 edge.

Wrapping up its “Launching People – Mixed Talents” campaign in Latin America, Samsung Electronics held a creativity marathon from May 11 to May 12 in Mexico City to encourage the region’s youth to work for the democratization of access to information. The campaign aimed to encourage Millennials to propose solutions to improve the digital inclusion of children in Latin America.

The creativity marathon, entitled “Interaction for Action,” was held over a period of 15 hours, and saw teams of 60 participants—including educators, developers, programmers and NGO leaders—interact to create a solution that allows children to more easily access communication technologies. The team with the most inventive proposal received a monetary reward for their idea.

Obtaining access to technology and information, such as navigating Wrapping up its “Launching People – Mixed Talents” campaign in Latin America, Samsung Electronics held a creativity marathon from May 11 to May 12 in Mexico City to encourage the region’s youth to work for the democratization of access to information. The campaign aimed to encourage Millennials to propose solutions to improve the digital inclusion of children in Latin America.

The creativity marathon, entitled “Interaction for Action,” was held over a period of 15 hours, and saw teams of 60 participants—including educators, developers, programmers and NGO leaders—interact to create a solution that allows children to more easily access communication technologies. The team with the most inventive proposal received a monetary reward for their idea.

the Internet or utilizing smartphone applications, might be effortless for many around the world, but is still unfeasible for about half of Latin America’s population, according to a survey by Datanalisis.

This lack of access interferes directly in the educational and economic progress of Latin countries. In fact, 61 percent of Latin youth agree that the scarcity of access to technology can be a challenge and an obstacle to gaining an education.

“That’s why we chose digital inclusion as a theme for the campaign ‘Launching People – Mixed Talents’ in Latin America,” explains Mario Laffitte, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Samsung Latin America. “We conducted this campaign to motivate young people to interact in search of creative and innovative ideas and to show that Samsung technology can be used in a meaningful way, when combined with the thoughts and ideas of young people.”

Despite existing challenges, the majority of Millennials, the cohort of 18- to 29-year-olds that represents approximately a quarter of the world’s population, want and believe they can make a difference in their countries.

The “Mixed Talents” campaign in Latin America, which was held in Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile in the latter part of 2015 to the first half of this year, has demonstrated that this powerful group of young people does in fact have the power to make a change. The initiative has also demonstrated that Samsung’s technology can be used in a meaningful way, when combined with Millennials’ ideas, like the ones presented at the creativity marathon.

“We are certain that our campaign helped to awaken the social interest of young people,” notes Laffitte. “With this, we plant a seed. From now on, there is a huge potential to alleviate the current situation.”

As Samsung’s 2015 Launching People campaign comes to an end, it is certain that future initiatives will continue to help individuals use technology to realize their dreams and reach their full potential. Launching People will also continue to bring to light creative and innovative ideas that illustrate how powerful technology can be when it comes to solving society’s biggest challenges.

From Left: Samsung Tab S2, Samsung Gear S2, Samsung Galaxy S6, brainBAND

Samsung Electronics Australia has announced the creation of brainBAND, an innovative piece of wearable technology designed to facilitate research into concussion in sports. brainBAND is the work of Dr. Alan Pearce and Braden Wilson.

The prototype has been developed through Samsung’s Launching People program, an initiative that brings together two experts from different backgrounds to demonstrate how technology can investigate and help solve real challenges facing society.

Dr. Alan Pearce, a neuroscientist heavily involved in concussion research and education, and Braden Wilson, an industrial designer, worked with Samsung on the program. Together, they created a wearable technology prototype that can track impacts to the head in contact sports in real-time, with the aim to use this data to better understand concussion in sport and the ongoing impact on the brain.

Concussion is a growing societal issue in Australia with most incidences going unreported as symptoms are hard to see. Unlike traditional head gear designed to protect the head in contact sports, brainBAND is designed to gather information regarding an impact in real-time – a first in Australia.

Philip Newton, CMO, Samsung Electronics Australia commented on the program: “At Samsung, we have a strong belief in pushing the boundaries of technology and challenging the current perception of what is possible through innovation.

“This is why we are extremely proud to have helped facilitate the work of Dr. Alan Pearce and Braden Wilson to create the brainBAND prototype to aid research into concussion in sport.”

How It Works

In the prototype, a specially designed headband houses sensors at the back of the head that measure the force of an impact. This information would then be relayed via an app to medics, referees and coaches, all in real-time through the use of Samsung devices.

A series of LED lights embedded in the headband indicate the level of impact of a hit: yellow, orange and red for high alert, meaning a player should be taken off the field for assessment.

All impact data will be recorded and logged so that, over time, players could obtain a more complete picture of the forces their brain has been put under.

Dr. Alan Pearce, neuroscientist and expert on concussion said: “The ultimate goal is that by understanding the dangers of repeated concussions, brainBAND may help prevent life changing injuries at every level of the game, and protect the next generation of players.”

Released today, the final episode in an eight part content series curated by Leo Burnett highlights the results achieved throughout the initiative by putting the prototype to the test on the sporting field. The video can be viewed here.

Australian football sensation and Samsung brand ambassador, Israel Folau, who was the first to trial the prototype, stated, “I think it’d be great if every player in Australia had access to this kind of technology to make contact sports safer for current and future generations.”

The collaboration with Samsung Australia has inspired Dr. Alan Pearce and Braden Wilson to continue their research and development, utilising the data learned through the Mixed Talents campaign.

Follow the journey of Dr. Alan Pearce and Braden Wilson through concept to prototype, with all eight episodes published via the website (www.samsung.com.au/launchingpeople) and continue the conversation on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #MixedTalents

According to a study published in 2014 in medical journal Current Opinion in Neurology, one in four people suffer from a fear of heights. Among their number are Aleksandra Poletaeva, Muhammad Umer and Fynn Jedrysek.

For people like Aleksandra, Muhammad and Fynn, simply walking up a steep flight of stairs or taking a glass elevator can be a terrifying experience.

“I’ve been uncomfortable with heights since childhood,” said Aleksandra. “The third floor is the most I can handle. If I try to go higher, I get really scared.”

Fynn explained that his fear of heights gets in the way of his love of travel. “I can’t even look when others are standing next to a cliff,” he said. “I want to discover challenging heights, like canyons in Norway. I want to enjoy breath-taking views without feeling anxiety.”

In many cases, however, confronting your fears can help you deal with them more effectively.

So, in an effort to tackle their fears head-on, Aleksandra, Muhammad and Fynn took part in Samsung’s #BeFearless program, part of the Launching People campaign. The campaign was created in 2013 in an effort to help people use technology to realize their dreams and live life to its fullest potential.

The #BeFearless program sought to empower young people to face inner fears that can be a barrier in daily life. The program’s developers used immersive virtual reality simulations for the Samsung Gear VR to help them in their quest.

The #BeFearless team believe virtual reality can provide lifelike experiences in a non-threatening environment and help people with fears to unleash their hidden potential. The technology is so immersive that it can make people feel as if they are, for example, atop a ladder or standing on the ramparts of a high tower, even though they need not leave their living rooms to do so.

The initiative called for volunteers who wished to take part in a four-week virtual reality coaching program and conquer their fears, including those who, like Aleksandra, Muhammad and Fynn, suffered from a fear of heights.

Training sessions involved four different scenarios, namely: riding up in a glass elevator, driving along a cliff-top road, standing on a ledge atop a large skyscraper and taking a helicopter to the summit of a mountain ski slope. Each scenario had three difficulty levels.

Although they were able to take part in sessions from the comfort and security of their living rooms, the immersive nature of the virtual reality experience made the volunteers’ scenarios feel very real indeed.

To advance to the next level, participants had to master the situation presented to them. They “passed” or “failed” tests based on scientific and medically proven criteria, such as changes in heart rate, measured using Samsung Gear S smartwatches, eye level (percentage of time spent looking down) and self-assessed anxiety checks.

Muhammad, 20, imagined that his fear of heights would scupper his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.

In fact, he was on the verge of starting down another career path altogether before his experiences with #BeFearless.

He explained that his Gear VR sessions were incredibly realistic, saying, “At first I just wanted to hold onto something because they were so lifelike. It got scarier with each higher level I moved on to.”

But as Muhammad progressed with his program, he noted that his fear was slowly turning to enjoyment.

He said, “I got an adrenaline rush when I was using the VR. The whole concept of looking down excites me now and I would like to do it for real.”

His pilot dreams, it seems, are now back on track. See how Muhammad got on here.

Aleksandra, 26, also says she feels she has overcome the worst of her fears. She works for a company based on the 25^th floor. And while her workmates have all long appreciated the view from Floor #25, Aleksandra says it once left her feeling terrified.

Her experiences with #BeFearless turned all that around. “At first, being in unexpected VR situations scared me. But as I repeated them, I felt less and less anxious.”

By the end of her program, Aleksandra was able to walk over to the windows in her office and take in some magnificent views of the city below.

See how Aleksandra overcame her fears here.

And Fynn, 23, also explained that he now feels more confident than ever. He said, “It was really a step into another world for me. Every time I did it, I got braver. Now I want to go a step further. I want to go higher than ever.”

After four weeks of progress, Fynn and his fellow heights-fearing participants were invited to demonstrate their progress in Dubai, with a dizzying zip line adventure that took them high above a popular shopping mall, and sailing over Dubai Fountain before returning to terra firma.

Watch how Fynn got along here.

The success of the #BeFearless program is based on research conducted by doctors at Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Hospital in South Korea. The success of the #BeFearless program is supported by research conducted by doctors at Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Hospital in South Korea. The researchers used VR training programs with a group of 82 South Korea-based participants. The training sessions brought about a reduction of nearly 90 percent in fear of heights and public speaking in the group.

The 82 participants were treated in sessions that made use of the same training materials applied as part of the #BeFearless program.

Read about how #BeFearless helped a group of young public speaking-fearing people overcome their anxieties here.

Samsung’s #BeFearless program was part of its Launching People campaign, a search for creative and innovative ideas that show how powerful technology can be when it comes to solving real challenges facing society. #BeFearless was aimed at today’s Digital Natives for whom technology is a powerful tool that they want to use to its full potential.

After all, in the world of fashion, being able to speak confidently about your latest designs is vital.

“I sweat and forget what I have to say,” said Salminaz. “Honestly, making eye contact makes me feel terrible.”

A study published in medical journal Psychological Medicine found that one in five people expresses fear about the idea of talking in front of large groups, making the phobia arguably one of the most common out there.

For some, the secret to conquering a fear is to face it head-on. In many phobia sufferers’ cases, taking small, gradually progressive steps in non-threatening situations can help build confidence.

To this end, Samsung pioneered its #BeFearless program for the Samsung Gear VR, part of Samsung’s Launching People campaign. The aim of the campaign, created in 2013, was to help people use technology to realize their dreams and live life to its fullest.

#BeFearless called for volunteers to take part in immersive, four-week, step-by-step virtual reality coaching programs to overcome their fears. Equipped with the Samsung Gear VR, they found themselves in a range of potentially daunting scenarios, made even more real with lifelike audio.

The scenarios comprised three public situations. These included a school setting that required participants to engage in discussions and presentations. There was also an office setting that included a job interview, a business meeting and a conference.

The third setting introduced social situations, culminating in a toast at a wedding and a daunting awards speech.

Each scenario comprised four levels of difficulty, and participants were encouraged to repeat levels until they felt completely confident. To advance to the next level, participants had to “pass” stages.

Their tests were based on scientific and medically proven criteria, such as changes in heart rate, measured using Samsung Gear S smartwatches, amount of virtual eye contact and self-assessed anxiety checks.

Before Salminaz began on the #BeFearless program, she said, “My biggest dream is to speak to an auditorium full of people and feel confident and active.”

And after four weeks of concerted effort via her VR training, she was able to do just that – successfully delivering a talk in front of a large crowd at Dubai’s Courtyard Playhouse theater.

Following her four-week program, Salminaz was all smiles. “It was a great idea,” she said. “The program helped me get over my fears.”

Take a look at how Salminaz progressed here.

Another volunteer, Maria Melkosyants, 25, aspires to be a teacher, but explained that her aversion to the idea of talking in public situations has the potential to hold her back.

“Communicating with a big groups, especially people I don’t know, is always emotional,” she said. “I have to meet students, tell them things and help them. That might not sound scary to some, but it makes me feel very afraid.”

Maria felt the program helped her come out of her shell in a way she felt comfortable, explaining, “I felt calm knowing that I was doing everything at home in front of virtual people.”

And her VR experiences helped her build the confidence that she had been lacking, resulting in a real-life teaching demonstration in front of actual students.

She said, “Gradually I started to speak – I started to feel confident that I could do it, as I felt like I’d done it before.”

See how Maria got on here.

Franziska Eichenaur, 19, is another for whom fear of appearing in front of people creates obstacles. She is a student whose academic work includes making presentations in class.

Said Franziska, “Speaking in front of big crowds makes me feel insecure. But I’d really like to be able to reach people with what I say and the way I present myself.”

Franziska was also transformed by the VR training, noting, “The training helped me so much. I felt a wave of positivity that just carried me away. And since I have achieved that, I really want to show it to others.”

Like Salminaz, on completion of the program, Franziska was able to overcome her fears and take to the stage in Dubai. Watch Franziska’s story here.

The success of the #BeFearless program is supported by research conducted by doctors at Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Hospital in South Korea. The researchers used VR training programs with a group of 82 South Korea-based participants. The training sessions brought about a reduction of nearly 90 percent in fear of heights and public speaking in the group.

The 82 participants were treated in sessions that made use of the same training materials applied as part of the #BeFearless program.

Read about how #BeFearless helped a group of young heights-fearing people overcome their anxieties here.

Samsung’s #BeFearless program was part of its Launching People campaign, a search for creative and innovative ideas that show how powerful technology can be when it comes to solving real challenges facing society. #BeFearless was aimed at today’s Digital Natives for whom technology is a powerful tool that they want to use to its full potential.