For the Internet of Things (IoT) to be a success, technology firms must collaborate more and allow their products to connect with rival devices, believes BK Yoon, president and chief executive of Samsung Electronics.

While delivering the opening keynote speech at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Yoon called for greater openness and collaboration across industries to unlock more possibilities of the IoT.

“The IoT has the potential to transform our society, economy and how we live our lives,” said Yoon. “It is our job to pull together — as an industry, and across different sectors — to make true on the promise of the IoT.”

The Internet of Things refers to the transformation of devices such as fridges, washer-dryers and thermostats into smart gadgets that can be controlled remotely and can report on their status.

Yoon also emphasised that IoT must focus more on people and fitting into their individual lifestyles, adding: “The IoT is not about ‘things.’ Instead, it is about people. Each person is at the centre of their own technology universe, and the IoT universe will constantly adapt and change shape as people move through their world.”

Joining Yoon on stage, Alex Hawkinson, the chief executive of SmartThings, a company which creates technology that can control and co-ordinate devices from various different firms, supported Yoon’s vision for a more connected world.

“For the IoT to be a success, it has to be open,” said Hawkinson. “Any device, from any platform, must be able to connect and communicate with one another.”

Yoon also announced Samsung’s plans to make all the company’s technology IoT-enabled. According to the tech boss, by 2017 all Samsung televisions will be IoT devices, and in five years it is expected that all Samsung devices will become IoT-ready.

According to American tech research firm Gartner, there will be almost 26 billion devices IoT-enabled by 2020.