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Samsung has announced that its entire 2016 line-up of Smart TVs will be "Internet of Things ready", meaning that users will be able to switch on the lights, adjust the temperature in their home, and even unlock the front door without leaving the sofa.

Earlier this year, the South Korean company launched a new technology called SmartThings , which allows users to connect, manage and control "smart" devices in their home using a smartphone or tablet.

These include smart devices made by Samsung, like its Smartcam HD Pro security camera and its Radiant-360 R7 speaker, as well as those made by other manufacturers, like the Philips Hue Connected light bulb and the Yale Keyfree Connected Smart Lock.

Now Samsung is building the same SmartThings technology into all of its Smart TVs, allowing the TV to act as the controller for the entire smart home .

"Applying this technology into current household devices is a major step forwards that will make it much easier for everyone to experience the benefits of a smart home," said Alex Hawkinson, chief executive and co-founder of SmartThings.

He explained that, with an outdoor camera connected to their Samsung Smart TV, people can check when visitors arrive and choose whether to open their front door, directly from their sofa.

Motion sensor alerts can also pop-up directly on the TV screen, if movement outside the home is picked up, providing more security and peace of mind.

The SmartThings application’s Cinema Mood also makes it easier for users to create the optimal film viewing experience by automatically adjusting the lighting and surround sound using their remote control.

Samsung added that SmartThings is an open platform, so as time goes on, more and more smart home devices will become compatible with its Smart TVs.

The company will showcase the new TVs at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week, along with some of the projects from its secret laboratory, called Creative Lab (C-Lab).

These include rink, which is a hand-motion controller that works with virtual reality headsets to help gamers interact with the virtual world in a more intuitive and nuanced way.

Another project is Welt - a smart belt that helps you maintain your waistline by counting steps and monitoring the time you spend sitting down, as well as your eating habits, to help design of a range of personalised healthcare and weight management plans.

Finally, a new technology called TipTalk, that can be built into a watch strap, enables people to listen to music or take calls without headphones on, just by pressing a finger against their ear.