[AI Experience] The Next Step in the Evolution of Human-Machine Interaction

An illustration of a man being influenced by artificial intelligence with images representing contextual understanding regarding AI.

In the fifth episode of the AI Experience series, we look closer at the importance of contextual understanding in the advancement of AI. For more on this topic, visit www.AIXexchange.com. Developers and potential partners interested in LG’s ThinQ Platform should check out thinq.developer.lge.com.

From AI speaker that recommend movie and TV shows matched to our personal tastes, AI is helping to make daily life more convenient in numerous ways. But we’ve all had that experience when Siri or Alexa responds with the wrong information or doesn’t understand the question. For AI to improve, it needs to better understand context.

“These limitations have inspired the call for a new phase of AI, which will create a more collaborative partnership between humans and machines,” said David Foster, head of Lyft Transit, Bikes and Scooters. “Contextual AI is technology embedded, understands human context and is capable of interacting with humans.”

When the “Age of Contextual AI” arrives, human-AI relationship will take a giant leap forward. Machines and services that can understand context in terms of physical space, the end user’s personality and style of communication – as well as myriad other factors that we take for granted, but are central to our ability to comprehend how society and personal interactions work – will become more like partners and more integrated than ever into the way we live.

Let’s take a look at five different areas that, if successfully navigated, will go a long way toward ensuring that the concept of contextual AI comes to its full fruition.

Spaces

Different kinds of spaces come with different sets of rules – some written and some unwritten. Based on those rules, we might dress and act in a certain way and also interpret what someone is saying, or what is going on around us, through a space-specific lens. One could argue that the pandemic has made environmental context even more difficult to discern for AI, with our homes now doubling as offices, classrooms, gyms, movie theaters, etc. This shift raises the importance of creating AI that can not only partially determine meaning or motive through reference to the specific type of space, but also from the nature of the interactions taking place within that space.

“We have to assume that AI is going to operate in a heterogeneous world with a lot of non AI-friendly consumers and devices or vehicles,” said Foster. “So the ability to be adaptive, predictive and context-aware is going to be key.”

When AI systems designed for different spaces and areas of our lives eventually converge, there will be serious implications around the exchange of personal data, including the way it is shared, when it is shared and for what purpose. To prevent or reduce risk, it is crucial to include end users in the development process, and to have both developers and policymakers work collaboratively to consider and uncover as many of the consequences as possible of a more integrated and contextually-aware AI network.

Values

With any new technology comes new moral considerations. Given the speed at which AI is developing, it is challenging for humans to evaluate whether each action is being performed in a responsible or ethical manner. Therefore, the task of imbuing AI with a set of values that informs its behavior has become particularly pressing.

While it is ultimately the developers who will ensure that core human values are built into AI systems, the task of choosing what those values are should be not be the domain of any one group. A broad collective that encompasses the full diversity of the modern human experience should be enlisted for this task, as this will help to establish a value set that is more representative of society as a whole and not geared to the interests or beliefs of any single segment.

Purpose

To engineer an AI that understands context, including distinctly human principles and patterns of behavior, demands the collection and analysis of significantly more user data. Increasing concerns around privacy in the digital age will undoubtedly result in users opting out of providing potentially sensitive personal information, which will unfortunately hinder AI from reaching its full potential, and individual AI solutions from rendering full value.

By transparently declaring and detailing the purpose and need for the collection of each data point, companies developing AI can help foster trust in their technologies and in their ethics as a business. If users can see the need for granting access to certain data and a clear benefit from doing so – such as the collection of home appliance usage data to help them achieve a greener, more cost-effective household – they will be more likely to share that information and to perceive the company as an ally in helping them reach their goals.

Creativity

AI is already being used in the creative sphere in a variety of interesting ways, from helping to write pop ballads to suggesting creative ideas in filmmaking when IBM’s AI platform, Watson, created the first-ever AI-made movie trailer for 20th Century Fox’s horror film, Morgan.^* While such usages represent considerable advancements in AI’s capabilities, experts question the extent to which the technology can develop its own sense of creativity.

“You can give AI a bunch of training data that says, ‘I consider this beautiful. I don’t consider this beautiful,’” says Arvind Krishna, senior vice president of hybrid cloud and director of IBM Research. “Now, if you ask it to create something beautiful from scratch, I think that’s certainly a more distant and challenging frontier.”

However, the idea that AI will one day be able to develop its own sense of creativity is essential to the unlocking of its full potential – specifically, the ability to go beyond the input data to develop new ideas and come to new contextual understandings that will enrich our lives and allow us to accelerate towards a brighter future.

Personality

Non-verbal cues such as a speaker’s facial expressions, tone of voice and body language play an important role in interpersonal communication and are factors that AI will need to be able to recognize if it is to provide better, more advanced services. However, because non-verbal cues can differ from person to person, the challenge of designing AI systems that can perceive such differences and respond accordingly, is considerable.

With the development of contextual understanding, AI will become more natural to interact with and more reliable in its ability to provide the information – or perform the tasks – we require of it. As it learns to infer meaning from the situation and surroundings, and the communication style of the end user, artificial intelligence will come closer than ever to being a genuine partner to humankind.

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^* https://www.ibm.com/watson/advantage-reports/future-of-artificial-intelligence/ai-creativity.html

Reinventing the B2B Experience in a New Landscape

Two men discussing LG ThinQ at The LG Business Solution Center during filming.

With Brazil still being devastated by COVID-19, businesses in the country are looking at the current situation not as a short-term change but a long-term direction. So instead of taking temporary steps to bide time until social distancing is lifted, the Brazil operation of LG Electronics took the step of opening a new facility that enables them to connect with customers while delivering an immersive experience with LG products without violating social distancing rules.

The LG Business Solutions Center (BSC) in the Barra Funda district on the west side of São Paulo was designed to provide an opportunity to interact with LG’s products in different commercial “zones” such as a Hotel, Hospital, Education, Retail, Meeting Room and Airport all from the safety and comfort of a private showroom. From commercial air conditions to digital signage to transparent OLED displays, the LG BSC is the one-stop location for all things B2B.

Covering 3,000 square meters, the LG Business Solution Center is thought to be the largest showroom of its kind in Latin America. The LG Business Solution Center also serves as a learning center with an area reserved for training repair staff air conditioning professionals with practical and theoretical instructions on how to repair residential and commercial units. The space can also be reserved for private workshops, seminars and presentations for customers, partners as well as employees.

But what really sets LG BSC apart from other showrooms is that the products interact with one another because many of LG’s B2B products are also smart and connectable. The showroom also features a space specially developed for the Connected Home utilizing LG ThinQ, the company’s smart devices brand with artificial intelligence.

“The LG Business Solution Center is one of our biggest projects in the country and is designed to drive the brand’s business with a broad portfolio and services ecosystem,” said Julio Baek, president of LG Electronics Brazil. “Investing in a space where our partners and consumers can experience our products and solutions reinforces LG’s focus on innovation and technology.”

Contributed by LG Brazil

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[Executive Corner] Advancing Digital Transformation Through the Cloud

Dr. Kim Dong-wook, head of the DTX Center, posing in front of an LG ThinQ Cloud diagram

For much of the last decade, digital transformation, also known as DX, has become a top business agenda for companies across all industries. But what exactly is digital transformation and why should consumers care? Hopefully after reading this, you’ll have a better idea of what DX is and why LG has made this a priority going forward.

In simplest terms, DX is an organization’s effort to accelerate its existing business model through the integration of advanced technologies. As a company centered around the concept of providing the best consumer electronics, appliances and services to make life better for everyone, LG Electronics is fully committed to digitizing its business model and modernizing its operations. This is why in 2019 we revamped our Cloud Center into the Digital Transformation Technology (DXT) Center to drive next-generation businesses such as big data, service platforms and LG ThinQ.

As one of the key drivers of our digital transformation, LG ThinQ is much more than an artificial intelligence interface for LG home appliances. LG’s AI solution seamlessly combines new technologies and machines across its wide range of offerings, such as smart TVs, refrigerators, air purifiers and even vacuum cleaners.

In 2018 alone, LG Electronics sold more than 70 million smart TVs and 5 million ThinQ-related home appliances across the world. While the popularity of these smart products was great news for LG, the sudden high level of activation were taking a toll on our servers and infrastructure. It was clear that LG had to fully digitalize, working closely with key partners to implement IoT solutions because although LG is proud of its strong manufacturing legacy, it was obvious that this transformation would require the know-how of different kinds of experts.

Since the launch of LG Cloud, LG experienced a dramatic change in two key areas: cost reduction and the way we work. To increase efficiency, we focused on creating a serverless cloud environment that didn’t require large server racks that took up valuable space or needed regular maintenance. We wanted a system which service providers could manage everything themselves while ensuring it ran safely and securely 24/7. What we ended up with was a system that enabled LG to save up to 80 percent on development costs.

Launching new services can be incredibly expensive and an organization’s development department would have to be certain that an investment was worth the money before committing. For businesses, the high initial costs of a new IT infrastructure project can kill an idea even before it gets off the ground.

The way in which our employees are working has also changed for the better. Being able to work from the cloud gives employees space to have discussions with product development teams from the very beginning of a project. This makes working together much easier, especially on projects that involve many moving parts.

Aligned with LG’s commitment to achieving a better life for all, the DTX Center will continue working tirelessly to implement even more new and innovative ways of working that bring more convenience to not only its consumers, but its valued employees as well.

By Dr. Kim Dong-wook, LG DTX Center Head

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LG Strengthens Medical Product Offering with Digital X-Ray Detector Featuring AI Software

A scenery of demo shop. A person is holding a Digital X-Ray Detector, while another is giving a product guideline

Utilizing VUNO’s AI Algorithm, LG’s X-ray Acquisition Software
Reduces Analysis Time by Detecting Abnormalities in Images

SEOUL, June 22, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled an improved X-ray acquisition software for the company’s Digital X-Ray Detector (DXD) line of medical imaging device products. The DXD software, developed in collaboration with VUNO, is LG’s first healthcare solution to utilize artificial intelligence. Paired with LG DXD, the advanced software provides a more convenient, more time-efficient way to generate and analyze X-ray images.

Designed for large hospitals as well as private clinics^*, LG’s DXD with X-ray acquisition software leverages advanced AI to help busy medical staff swiftly spot abnormalities in chest X-rays, reducing reading time by automatically flagging suspicious readings on the displayed image. Featuring VUNO’s clinically proven AI algorithm, LG DXD enables medical professionals to view original X-rays and AI-analyzed images at the same time, ideal for diagnosing pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia or lung cancer. LG DXD can analyze X-rays for interstitial opacity, consolidation, pneumothorax, pleural effusion and nodule/mass then inform the medical provider of any abnormalities and provide an abnormality score with a colored heat map or contour that marks any lesions detected.

LG is enhancing its range of high-quality medical solutions with the debut of a 14 x 17-inch wireless DXD with oxide panel that delivers high-resolution, low-dose images. The implementation of oxide and thicker cesium-iodide (CsI) scintillator and improved software means greater detective quantum efficiency (DQE) resulting in approximately 50 percent less radiation dosage. And with an IP68 rating, the new DXD is safe to use in dusty or wet conditions, while the eight hour battery life means easy portability and long usage times.

“LG Digital X-Ray Detector is now even more powerful with the integration of VUNO’s AI technology,” said Jang Ik-hwan, senior vice president and head of the IT business unit of LG Electronics Business Solutions Company. “Our improved diagnostic tool will enable medical facilities to reduce incidences of misdiagnosis, provide faster analysis and assist healthcare professionals in detecting thoracic diseases early.”

LG’s latest DXD medical solutions will be available starting in North America, followed by key markets in Europe and Asia.

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^*Relevant medical device certifications pending in relevant markets.

[LG SIGNATURE Inspirations] Keeping Perfect Harmony With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra posing outside the Royal Albert Hall with the logos of LG SIGNATURE and the orchestra above

Over the past 16 months, the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of live events and the closure of museums, galleries and other cultural institutions all over the world. With the absence of ticket sales and admission fees, corporate sponsorships have been the lifeline for many arts-related organizations. With social distancing still ongoing in the UK, LG SIGNATURE and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) entered into a partnership as the RPO prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in September.

As international corporate partner, LG SIGNATURE will offer exclusive RPO digital content to its customers, including the live stream of a concert featuring performances by celebrated cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and bass-baritone, Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, CBE. The RPO’s new music director, the acclaimed conductor Vasily Petrenko, will take on the role of LG SIGNATURE’s brand ambassador. RPO and LG SIGNATURE fans alike can expect to experience a bold and adventurous partnership as the relationship gets underway.

Through the partnership, LG SIGNATURE will support the RPO’s social programs in the UK aimed at creating stronger, more inclusive communities through the arts. LG SIGNATURE and the RPO share a common belief that the arts have a profound ability to uplift and help people and cultures come together in both good times and bad. The two also share the goal of improving people’s lives through their respective creative efforts.

Since its launch in 2016, LG SIGNATURE has been a patron of the arts partnering with and supporting established cultural institutions such as the American Ballet Theater (ABT), Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Russia and Italy’s exquisite La Scala opera house.

LG SIGNATURE recognizes and appreciates the contribution of the arts and the role it plays in encouraging the hopes and dreams of artists everywhere. Supporting the work of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra allows LG to contribute in its own small way to making life better for everyone the organization touches.

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Putting the Spotlight on Athletes of East Africa

A photo of boxer Elly Ajowi making a proud fighting pose while holding his LG trophy

LG East Africa managing director Kim Sa-nyoung and SJAK President Chris Mbaisi

Sports promote greater diversity by bringing cultures and people together and its profound impact is felt in many spheres of life. But since the start of the pandemic, most of the world has not been able to enjoy the fruits and joys of this favorite pastime. As countries slowly begin reopening for business and return to life as usual, LG East Africa partnered with the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) to recognize and reward outstanding sporting talent in Kenya.

Tylor Okari Ongwae, Photo Credit: Kenya Basketball Federation

The LG Sports Personality of the Month Award, a year-long collaboration, gives LG and SJAK the opportunity to put a spotlight on the most exceptional Kenyan sportsmen and sportswomen for their achievements. A winner is selected by a panel of SJAK members from eight different media outlets in Kenya every month. Five athletes in the fields of tennis, basketball, boxing and marathon running have already been recognized this year with LG Sports Personality of the Month Awards.

Angela Okutoyi, Photo Credit: Tennis Kenya

Winners to date include tennis star Angela Okutoyi and basketball player Tylor Okari Ongwae who were both awarded LG Instaview refrigerators in recognition of their amazing achievements on their respective courts. Boxer Elly Ajowi received an LG NanoCell TV while Ruth Chepng’etich, who recently set the world record for the half marathon, received an LG AI DD washing machine for her contribution to the sport. Earlier this week marathoner Titus Ekiru was named the latest winner which included the prize of an LG SolarDOM oven.

“This award has really motivated me to do well in my next race in Tokyo so I can hopefully bring back another medal for Kenya,” said Chepng’etich.

Ruth Chepng’etich

This isn’t the first time LG has worked with SJAK, having previously coordinated on the nation’s Footballer of the Month award. According to SJAK president Chris Mbaisi, the LG Sports Personality of the Month Award is already motivating both up-and-coming and established athletes alike at a time when the sports world has had little to be optimistic about.

Elly Ajowi

Boxer Ajowi applauded LG and SJAK for creating the much-appreciated award program and said the recognition would inspire other boxers to be the best that they can be in the sport.

Throughout these creative partnerships, LG is demonstrating its commitment to social sustainability. Collaborations such as the LG Sports Personality of the Month Award underline the crucial role the private sector can play in championing the development of local talent who could one day go for gold and bring pride to a whole nation.

Contributed by LG East Africa

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Taking a Firm Stance on Patent Infringement

Photo Credit: The Focal Project (Flickr)

In the world of technology, intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets of a company. Patents, the legal proof of IP, can cost a company hundreds of millions of dollars in R&D over many years and many man- and women-hours of work. But earning a patent is just the first step. A patent holder must also be willing to protect it from unauthorized use, often at great expense of money and time. Given that IP is the life’s work of many of its engineers and scientists, LG has adopted an aggressive strategy to protect the inventions and discoveries of its employees.

LG has a long and storied history in scientific innovation, none probably as notable as its innovations in 4G/LTE and 5G wireless technologies. In fact, LG has one of the strongest patent portfolios when it comes to 4G/LTE and 5G, with more than 6,000 patent families worldwide. And even with LG’s announcement to exit the mobile business, its wireless patents will continue to contribute to LG in the form of revenue and future innovation. Protecting IP is important because companies have a responsibility to the employees who expect their companies to do whatever it takes to keep their innovation from being commoditized by unscrupulous players.

Photo Credit: Ivan Radic (Flickr)

Fortunately, LG’s fight to protect its patents in the courts has largely been successful. In 2017, LG took legal action against U.S. smartphone manufacturer BLU for violating five of LG’s LTE standard essential patents (SEP). The matter was successfully concluded a few months later with BLU signing an agreement to license LG’s technologies.

In another case, a regional court in Germany ruled earlier this month that Chinese consumer electronics brand TCL had infringed one of LG’s LTE patents, consistent with the two earlier decisions which were also judged in LG’s favor. This ruling is significant for LG because it means that all manufacturers’ LTE devices are in fact utilizing LG-patented technology.

LG has also had to defend its IP against European phone manufacturer Wiko from unlawful use without a license. In 2018, LG filed three separate suits against Wiko for infringing LG’s LTE SEPs and all were decided in LG’s favor a year later but appealed by Wiko. Ultimately, two of the original rulings were upheld with the third case expected to be decided later this year. The patents in the Wiko case differ from the patents in the TCL case, proof that the breadth and strength of LG’s LTE SEP portfolio is second to none.

What these cases demonstrate is that protecting one’s intellectual property is vitally important for any technology company to survive in today’s competitive environment. Future technologies such as 6G are even more critical because of the importance of fast connectivity in tomorrow’s world.

LG is already putting into place the pieces to continue to be a wireless leader, including the establishment of the LG-KAIST 6G Research Center in cooperation with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and partnering with Keysight Technologies, a global wireless communication test instrumentation equipment manufacturer. The election of LG principal research engineer Dr. Lee Ki-dong to a chairperson role in the Next G Alliance will also help to advance LG’s leadership in 6G.

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[AI Experience] Human-Centric AI Design Key to Greater Acceptance

An illustration of a man being influenced by electronic devices to represent AI user experience.

In this fourth episode of AI Experience, we deep dive into how UX is evolving to better address users’ needs. Go to www.AIXexchange.com to learn even more from AI experts and leaders in various fields such as design, anthropology, policy, consumer and employee advocacy. Developers and potential partners are encouraged to explore the ThinQ Platform at thinq.developer.lge.com to experience what’s possible with LG.

From smart homes to virtual assistants to the first-ever image of a black hole, recent advances in AI are changing how we live and expanding our understanding of the universe around us. And we’ve only just scratched the surface.

But for AI to scale the heights we think it will ultimately be capable of, it is important that those developing the technology today get the user experience right. Delivering enjoyable experiences through human-centric design, especially in the arena of consumer AI products and services, will create the necessary buy-in and help fuel the technology’s growth enroute to achieving its full potential.

The term user experience refers to the overall experience a device, system or piece of software provides its user. The easier, more intuitive and pleasing the experience, the more likely it is that the user will recommend the technology in question to others, which typically drives popularity and increases uptake. For AI, as for many other products and services, convenience and efficiency are the cornerstones of a quality user experience.

“For AI to be consumable, for it to be usable, for it to be something that consumers can trust, design is actually the deal maker in that process,” said Sri Shivananda, senior vice president and CTO of PayPal. “Good design makes the product convenient and makes the customer want to engage more, come back more and be loyal to the product as well.”

Let’s take a look at five components that are material to the construction and provision of a better AI user experience: feedback and articulation, intuitive design, purpose, presence and interface.

Feedback and Articulation
To create more and better AI features and functionalities, both passive data collection and active user feedback are required. One of the most recognizable forms of active user feedback is the “like” button found on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. AI algorithms record this data and use it to discern users’ preferences – and customize their feed accordingly – and to determine what is popular and trending across the platform and to help the platforms’ developers create new features that are relevant to their user base.

“I think AI will be used to help aggregate many different inputs that a human might make into a vehicle for mobility,” said David Foster, head of Lyft Transit, Bikes and Scooters, highlighting the value of AI in collecting and analyzing a variety of feedback. “Combine those with inputs that the vehicle itself is sensing around road conditions and traffic hazards, and then turn those into meaningful outputs that either give feedback to the humans through a different piece of output technology or direct the vehicle or another vehicle to take a different action.”

Intuitive Design
In basic terms, an intuitive design is one that is easy to use, where the method of control and operation seems obvious and completely natural to the vast majority of users. Integrating AI into products and services presents designers with a relatively new challenge, especially given AI’s unique ability to learn and adapt. Providing the space to do just that, while still delivering convenience to the user at all times, requires a fine balance. Yet, consumers have shown an understanding that AI applications need time to learn. This, to some extent, affords designers the opportunity to work towards more intuitive designs without the burden of having to attain perfection at the outset.

According to Alexandra Zafiroglu, deputy director at Australia’s 3A Institute (3AI), the solutions that we build “do not have to be perfect the first time that we put them out, but they have to be learning over time and providing value over time like a puppy.”

Purpose

A clearly defined purpose is essential to the success and effectiveness of any human-centric, commercial AI solution. And that purpose must be based on an in-depth understanding of customers’ needs and of the context within which those needs have arisen. Additionally, the transparent communication of purpose can be beneficial in building trust between the manufacturer or provider and the end user.

By clarifying intention and offering some insight into the design process (such as the time and consideration given to possible unintended consequences) and the measures put in place to prevent misuse, companies can show consumers their commitment to protecting their data security and to the ethical development of AI.

Presence

AI can provide value through active user engagement, such as voice-activated virtual assistants, and through passive means, such as the automation of smart home systems. Deciding which is the appropriate mode of control or management for each available feature or function is the cornerstone of successful AI design. But for every decision that developers have to make, there must first be a thorough examination of the potential consequences of their choices.

This decision-making process is a part of the broader human-centric design conversation, which demands that the consumer is viewed and valued as a complete person, rather than merely a source of revenue or data. Respect for the user as an individual must be factored into every decision, whether it is concerning the user experience or the very foundation of the technology itself.

Helena Leurent, director general of Consumers International, suggests that companies invite experts from different fields to share their knowledge and viewpoints, as this will help them to not only build successful AI systems, but to foster trust that any choices made are in the users’ best interests.

Interface

The interface of an AI product or service acts as a bridge between artificial and human intelligence, allowing the one to communicate with the other. Unsurprisingly, consumers have thus far shown a preference for AI that feels more natural and instinctive to use and interact with.

This is by no means an easy feat for designers to achieve and involves many questions that must be answered, such as, is it better to employ a touchscreen or physical buttons? Should an avatar or human voice be used to give personality to the technology? Does virtual or augmented reality provide the best conditions for relating to and engaging with AI? And of course, knowing and understanding people’s preferences and needs is also a crucial part of the equation.

Whatever design decisions are made, an interface should ultimately feel as natural as possible to as many users as possible and be suitable for use within a diverse range of scenarios. It should also be engineered with an eye on potential future integrations as AI continues to evolve and gain new capabilities.

Following human-centric design means better AI user experiences for everyone – from the consumers who use and benefit from the technology on a daily basis to the developers seeking to improve and expand on their creations and the technical support teams charged with remedying any issues that might emerge. With its ability to learn and adapt to the needs of the user, AI is already ushering in an era of unprecedented personalization and unique value. The continued refinement of the user experience will help attract more and more consumers to AI solutions and assist in securing the long-term growth of the technology itself.

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Commitment to Advancing Green Building

The LEED Platinum Certified LG North American headquarters campus in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

LG Electronics was honored by the U.S. Green Building Council with the 2021 USGBC Leadership Award for the company’s LEED Platinum Certified LG North American headquarters campus in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The USD 300 million project is a showcase for environmentally friendly design, having achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum New Construction certification, the highest-level rating that distinguishes buildings that promote employee well-being, are energy and water efficient, and preserve open space and ecosystems.

LG increased green space on the 27-acre site by 50 percent, maintained woodlands and wetlands and planted more than 1,500 new trees native to New Jersey. Incorporating the company’s own green-building technologies, the facility features highly efficient LG HVAC technologies to maximize energy conservation and an 7,900 square meter rooftop array of LG solar modules to generate clean electricity on-site and help reduce carbon emissions. Other award-winning technologies and systems from LG – including digital signage displays and smart appliances – also are integrated throughout the property.

The campus is one of only 10 new construction buildings in the state of New Jersey and one of 894 projects in the United States to earn the coveted LEED Platinum distinction. The 32,516 square meter building’s design has been applauded by conservation groups for protecting the iconic vistas and integrity of the nearby Palisades Park, a national natural and historic landmark.

As one of the newest, most state-of-the-art office facilities in the region, the LG campus can be considered a post-COVID-19 model for companies looking to move from urban centers to more suburbs, into more affordable space closer to where their employees live. The spacious floor plans will allow LG’s employees to spread out in the open-plan office environment.

Direct connections with the outdoors are emphasized. The architectural design of the building, which contrasts a well-crafted, high-tech machine with nature, distinguishes it in the local market. Designed by global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm HOK in collaboration with LG, the project has also garnered attention for its innovative and thoughtful design including multiple sustainability awards from regional chapters of the American Institute of Architects.

Ken Drucker, HOK’s design principal, said, “The resilient design of the building supports the health and well-being of LG staff while also respecting and supporting the invaluable Palisades ecosystem and wider community.”

Presented at the USGBC Live virtual event, the 2021 USGBC Leadership Awards recognize the best of USGBC’s 10,000 member organizations, a network of committed professionals with more than 106,000 LEED commercial projects in more than 180 countries and territories around the world. The efforts of the honorees such as LG stand out as exceptional examples of sustainability leadership among a strong and growing network of projects, companies and individuals.

Contributed by LG USA

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LG Playing Key Role in 6G Development

LG Selected to Lead Next G Alliance’s Applications Working Group

SEOUL, June 15, 2021 – LG Electronics (LG) announces the election of Dr. Lee Ki-dong, principal research engineer at the Research and Standards Lab in LG USA, as chairperson of the Applications Working Group of the Next G Alliance until 2023, the industry initiative of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) to advance mobile technology leadership in 6G for the next decade and beyond in North America.

Setting the stage for the eventual commercialization of 6G, the Next G Alliance, a collaboration of about 50 leading information and communications companies all working toward the common objective of advancing 6G technology, will influence and encompass the full lifecycle of research and development, manufacturing, standardization and market readiness. Within the Next G Alliance, the Applications Working Group is responsible for identification, assessment and steering the landscape of 6G technology use case scenarios, coordinating with other Next G Alliance groups to advance the 6G roadmap in North America.

Spearheading LG’s leadership in the Next G Alliance is Dr. Lee, who has been actively involved for over 20 years in research and standardization of mobile and satellite communications systems in various organizations, including IEEE and 3GPP. He previously served as Vice Chairman at as 3GPP System Architecture Working Group 1 from 2015 to 2019 and extended his specialty to the automotive industry. Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. in Operations Research, Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

“The work of the Next G Alliance is paving the way for 6G, and the Applications Working Group will play a key role in defining the future of telecommunications,” said Dr. Lee. “LG has a long and storied history as a leader in the wireless technology space and it’s an honor to be able to represent LG in this important initiative.”

As a pioneer in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) innovations, LG sees the importance of 6G for the future of mobility. A mobile system that transmits information at high speed via ultra-responsive, ultra-reliable and ultra-low latency connection is essential to the success of next-generation autonomous vehicles. Low latency is critical when cars are travelling at high speeds and communication from vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure or vehicle to pedestrian through 6G can help prevent accidents for a safer driving experience.

LG Electronics has been active in 6G research for some time, launching the LG-KAIST 6G Research Center in South Korea in 2019 as well as partnering with the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science to study emerging 6G technologies. Earlier this year, LG and KAIST brought on board Keysight Technologies Inc., a global manufacturer of wireless telecommunication testing and measuring equipment, to take the collaboration to the next level.

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The Ultimate Challenge From the Lowest Point on Earth

A runner using the Run Jordan VR smartphone app to run the LG Dead Sea Half Marathon Virtual Race.

During social distancing, running continues to be one of the most popular ways to stay in shape. But running with others has been more challenging. To bring the feeling of running a marathon to the lives of Jordanians, LG Electronics organized one of the region’s most popular events without putting any runner’s health at risk.

LG Dead Sea Half Marathon 2019

In partnership with the Jordanian Association for Charitable Marathons, LG Electronics sponsored the LG Dead Sea Half Marathon Virtual Race. Since 1993, the annual Dead Sea Marathon has been held in Jordan at 418 meters below sea level, giving it the fitting motto, “From The Lowest Point on Earth, WE RUN ANYWHERE.”

From May 28 to June 6, this year’s marathon was held virtually to ensure the safety of the runners. For eight days runners could track their progress on the Run Jordan VR smartphone app. Once the race started, the action was all on the app itself. Runners were able to run and compete with each other for the first time in over a year.

Those willing to challenge themselves selected one of three goals: 5km, 10km and 21km. During the race runners were able to track their own goals using their smartphones. Regardless of records and numbers, all runners who completed the race were awarded with medals for their effort because the most important objective was participation.

“It’s been one of our greatest achievements supporting the LG Dead Sea Half Marathon Virtual Race,” said Lina Al-Kurd, director general of the Jordanian Association for Marathons. “With the help of LG we were able to mobilize our global community to run a marathon from anywhere around the world. We look forward to racing side-by-side again soon.”

“Even during these difficult times LG has kept faith in the spirit of sports and in our partnership with the Jordanian Association for Charitable Marathons,” said Jeong Young-hak, managing director of LG Electronics Jordan. “We will continue to support the local community and encourage them to live life to the fullest until we can return to normality.”

LG will continue to support local communities in new and inventive ways until we can come together again in good health, and this year’s virtual marathon shows the unlimited possibilities with LG.

Contributed by LG Jordan

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Stars Align in Nollywood

The Hollywood sign with the ‘H’ replaced with ‘N’ to spell out Nollywood

Photo Credit: The Daily Times

Over the past three decades, the Nigerian film industry has built up a remarkable reputation for not only producing some of the most exciting films in the region but also for inspiring new film industries across the entire Africa continent on its way to becoming the world’s second largest film producer.¹ Nollywood, as it’s better known, is one of the best ways to showcase and experience the diverse cultures of Nigeria and Africa.

With the rise of the African cinema industry, more Nigerians and fellow Africans have been able to discover and appreciate blockbuster films that feel much closer to home. A recent study even showed that Nigerians are spending much of their free time getting together with friends and family to watch domestic films instead of foreign imports.²

As one of the world’s most familiar consumer electronics and home appliance brands, LG Electronics is investing in African consumers’ love of great entertainment and its power to bring people and cultures together by partnering with big screen superstars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Rita Dominic who were named LG Brand Ambassadors. As the celebrity spokesperson for LG OLED TVs, Mofe-Damijo is involved in events and social engagement activities to introduce consumers to the advantages of LG OLED TV technology. As the new face for LG home appliances, Dominic will be featured in advertising campaigns as well as participate in product launches and social media influencer activities on behalf of the company.

Richard Mofe-Damijo, better known as RMD, is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer and lawyer who even represented the country’s Delta State as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role and later went on to receive the ceremony’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

A beloved actress, producer and the co-founder of The Audrey Silva Company, Rita Dominic got her first starring role in Nollywood hit A Time to Kill, and has starred in over 100 Nollywood movies since, earning several prestigious awards in the process. Rita is the only actress to have won AMVCA’s Best Actress award in both the drama and comedy categories and remains the only West African actress to have won at Kenya’s Kalasha Awards. Undisputedly one of Africa’s finest leading ladies, CNN has described her as a “silver screen icon” capable of “embodying a range of colorful characters.”

“Richard Mofe-Damijo’s undeniable style resonates with the essence of our OLED TVs, while Rita Dominic is a woman of the people, hugely popular because of her graceful poise and powerful brand identity. This is why we wanted both as our newest ambassadors,” said Kim Dong-youn, managing director of LG Electronics West Africa.

“The brand’s state-of-the-art living solutions seamlessly combine the best designs with the most advanced technologies to achieve ultimate performances,” said Dominic. “They’re never willing to settle for second-best particularly in a time when most people around the world are either working or learning from home.”

Much like how films and the cinema experience not only bring people together but also connect on a deeper emotional level, LG Electronics is committed to making life better for consumers around the globe with its various innovations that have been endorsed by inspiring ambassadors that consumers can resonate with.

Contributed by LG Nigeria

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¹ https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/publications/spotlight-the-nigerian-film-industry.html
² https://www.academia.edu/41894744/Language_and_identity_Nigerian_video_films_and_diasporic_communities

LG and Highbrow Deliver Expertly-Curated Educational TV Content to Young Learners

The Highbrow app displayed on LG TV with various options each with different topic

Popular Videos from Highbrow Expand Education Options for Children on LG TVs

SEOUL, June 7, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) and Highbrow, the popular ad-free video-on-demand education platform for children, is coming to LG TV customers in 145 countries via the LG Content Store. LG’s Smart TVs running webOS versions 4.0 and higher will be the first to provide children up to 11 years of age, parents and educators with Highbrow’s wide selection of age-appropriate educational content to suit the needs of every young learner.

The Highbrow app delivers an engaging assortment of educational videos that have been carefully hand-curated and matched to each learner’s age and interest using proprietary technology for a personalized viewing experience. Highbrow makes recommendations from its library of more than 10,000 videos covering topics ranging from science, humanities, mathematics, music, art, languages and more. To deliver its fresh and engaging content, Highbrow works with over 200 global creators including Pinkfong, best known for its megahit Baby Shark song and video. As a globally trusted online learning platform, Highbrow is already being used in more than a hundred schools around the world.

With distance learning still dominating students’ lives, TVs have become the go-to education tool in many countries. With already more than a dozen education apps, LG TVs with webOS gives young learners access to a wide selection of educational content while the improved web browser delivers a convenient user experience for all ages.

With the screen mirroring features of LG TVs, content from compatible smartphones, tablets and PCs can be replicated on the TV screen using LG Magic Tap on Android or Airplay for Apple devices. Magic Tap also allows compatible smartphones to connect via NFC to LG’s Magic Remote on 2021 LG TVs, enabling learners to hear the TV’s audio through headphones or earbuds for more privacy and immersiveness.

Because protecting the eyes of viewers during learning is just as important as delivering outstanding picture quality, the displays in all 2021 LG OLED TVs are verified as being flicker-free and discomfort glare-free by UL.^* And because LG OLED TVs are TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe^® certified, parents can be assured that the health of their little ones’ eyes is not at risk.

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^*Flicker-free feature optimized with default setting.

Observing World Environment Day With a Little Less Plastic

LG's TV displays a beautiful mountain, forest and lake inside a living room.

Tomorrow, June 5, is World Environment Day. The United Nations created this day in 1972 in recognition of the need for there to be a coordinated global focus to begin to make conserving the environment and our natural resources a priority. While World Environment Day and Earth Day (April 22) may have similar goals and objectives, they have different origins and initiatives. To celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, let’s look at the role of plastic in today’s world and what LG is doing to lessen its environmental impact.

Plastic is an intrinsic part of modern life, found in almost every consumer product that isn’t crafted by hand. The issue with plastic is when it has outlived its usefulness, most of it ends up contributing to the increasing global problem of plastic pollution. In 2019 alone, more than 130 million metric tons of single-use plastics were discarded, with much of that thrown into landfills, burned or dumped into the world’s waterways.¹

Photo Credit: WWF

Produced primarily from fossil fuel-based chemicals, plastics can release harmful toxins throughout their lifecycle, damaging the environment and presenting a significant health risk at the same time. Without significant changes in production, consumption and waste management, the amount of plastic material entering the world’s oceans each year will increase to almost 30 million metric tons by 2040.² System-wide changes in our relationship with plastic are long overdue. But for this to happen, governments, corporations and consumers will all have to play their part.

LG Electronics is already on board.

LG’s 18 OLED TV models for 2021 require fewer components than conventional LCD TVs thanks to their unique backlight-less structure, meaning less plastic is required in the manufacturing process. For example, LG’s 65-inch model 65G1 OLED TV requires just 30 percent of the plastic used in the same-size LCD TV (model 65UP75). With a lineup featuring more OLED than LCD models, LG expects to reduce its plastic usage by approximately 10,000 tons this year.

LG is also increasing its use of recycled and recyclable materials, such as more metal in the outer casings of 2021 OLED TV models. And unlike LCD, OLED panels don’t require harmful materials such as cadmium and indium, making OLED the natural choice for environmentally-conscious customers. Even at the end of their lifecycle, LG OLED TVs offer excellent resource efficiency and a high recycling rate compared to LCD TVs, which are more complex and more resource-intensive to manufacture. What’s more, LG is planning to expand the use of recycled plastics in certain models of 2021 LCD TVs such as QNED Mini LED, using up to 750 tons of recycled plastic this year alone.

The increased use of recycled materials extends to LG’s 2021 soundbars as well. The exterior cases of all 2021 soundbar models are manufactured with attractive yet durable recycled plastics.³ By the end of the year the company expects to have reduced approximately 300 tons of plastic waste from landfills, repurposing them in LG soundbars. Certain soundbars will also incorporate Global Recycled Standard certified polyester jersey fabric made from recycled PET bottles, resulting in the removal of 1.5 million half-liter PET bottles from the trash this year alone.⁴ Furthermore, LG has adopted cleaner and greener packaging for its entire soundbar lineup by using recycled, molded pulp and significantly reducing the use of EPS (polystyrene) foam and plastics.

And by designing soundbar boxes in the shape of the letter L, LG was able to create a smaller footprint when shipping, saving on fuel and reducing emissions. The unique packaging enables a typical delivery truck to accommodate 58 percent more boxes.⁵ And because the L-shape reduces the empty space between boxes, less fillers are required, meaning less trash in the owner’s garbage bin. LG’s OLED TV and soundbar are the first OLED TV and audio products to receive SGS Eco-Product recognition from SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA of Switzerland.⁶

Full video: LG Global Youtube channel

By doing its part to help reduce the problem of plastic pollution, LG is honoring its commitment to the planet and consumers and helping to pave the way to a more sustainable future.

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¹Plastic Waste Makers Index, Minderoo Foundation, https://www.minderoo.org/plastic-waste-makers-index
²PEW, https://t.ly/nLBD
³Recycled plastic used in LG soundbar models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y, SPD7Y, SP2, G1 evaluated per UL 2809 Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Recycled Content
⁴Models SP7Y, SP2/2W, G1
⁵Based on model SP8YA
⁶ SGS Eco-Product certification received for 2021 LG OLED TV models Z1,G1,C1,B1, A1 and 2021 LG soundbar models SP11RA, SP9YA , SP8YA, SP7Y, SPD7Y , G1, QP5

The Future of Mobility

The mobility landscape has been completely reshaped over the last few years with landmark achievements being made in electrification, connectivity and autonomous driving.¹ With next-generation electric vehicles and intelligent driving fast approaching, LG Electronics also has been hard at work developing future-enabling technologies to accelerate the electric vehicle industry to the next level.

Below, we take a look at some of those trends and LG’s response to them.

Telematics, or vehicle connectivity, is poised to explode on the back of 5G and advanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, the system that transmits information at high speed via high-bandwidth, low-latency connection. LG’s In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system, which leverages the combined strengths of webOS Auto and Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform (MCVP), can collect and transmit a wide variety of information such as driver status, door status and app usage seamlessly.

LG Electronics is dedicated to developing highly competitive infotainment innovations including AVN, display systems, telematics and monitoring systems that account for more than 50 percent of the company’s total sales.

Infotainment systems provide drivers and passengers with helpful information, such as directions and weather forecasts, on top of in-vehicle entertainment that lets them listen to podcasts, make hands-free calls and check messages. The fast-growing global vehicle infotainment market is projected to increase from USD 24.3 billion in 2019 to USD 54.8 billion in 2027 (CAGR of 10.7 percent).² And with the increase in demand for more safety and security solutions, in-vehicle communication features and technologies will only become more important.

According to the Boston Consulting Group, the market for partially and fully autonomous cars will make up approximately 25 percent of new-vehicle sales by 2035.³ With the advancement in self-driving vehicles, one of the biggest concerns for car companies is safety which may explain why the global driving assist market is expected to grow from USD 1.9 billion in 2019 to USD 10.7 billion in 2027 (CAGR of 23.9 percent).⁴

LG Electronics is also actively developing components for driver assistance, such as the LG-designed ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) which utilizes a front camera to collect traffic information so drivers can make better decisions and roads can be made safer. ADAS can also recognize and respond to surrounding environments – even through busy intersections.

According to IHS Markit, global sales of electric vehicles hit 10 million units in 2020 and is expected to exceed 20 million units in 2022 and 40 million vehicles in 2025. Along with the growth of electric vehicles, relevant components such as motors and inverters are naturally expected to grow as well.

LG Electronics is working closely with Magna to develop cutting-edge technologies for components of electric vehicles. Under a new joint venture to launch next month, LG Magna e-Powertrain will produce EV components that benefit from Magna’s strength in electric powertrain systems and world-class automotive manufacturing as well as LG’s expertise in developing components for e-motors and inverters.

To respond to the rapidly changing automotive industry, LG is pursuing a strategy of strategic alliances and partnerships to develop industry-leading innovations for global automakers. In addition to LG Magna e-Powertain, LG and Luxoft created Alluto to drive the commercialization of production-ready digital cockpit, infotainment and ride-hailing systems based on LG’s webOS Auto platform. And in 2018, LG brought on board leading automotive lighting and headlight systems provider ZKW Group in a deal worth more than EUR 1.1 billion.

With vehicles of tomorrow just a few years away from becoming commonplace, LG is well positioned to be a leading provider of technologies for future mobility.

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¹https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-future-of-mobility-is-at-our-doorstep#
²https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/in-car-vehicle-infotainment-ici-systems-market-538.html
³ https://www.bcg.com/publications/2015/automotive-consumer-insight-revolution-drivers-seat-road-autonomous-vehicles
⁴ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/highway-driving-assist.asp

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