Samsung has gradually been building out smart home capabilities into its TVs, and this year at CES the company revealed a clear vision for making the biggest screen in homes the central control hub for connected devices.

A new always-on dashboard called Now+ will display relevant information from security cameras, room temperatures, laundry times, and more when you approach the TV. This takes the idea of the smart display into the living room and removes the need to grab the remote.

There is also a new quick settings panel for easy access to functions like lighting and door locks. This promises to improve the current SmartThings integration that essentially just mirrors the smartphone app on the TV.

Samsung is also expanding access to its Map View which places connected gadgets in an interactive layout showing real-time status and controls. First introduced on phones and tablets, Map View is now available on Samsung TVs and Family Hub fridges, as well as its M8 monitors.

New AI avatars aim to represent family members, and Samsung claims the ability to generate a home map from just an address, removing the need for room scanning.

With all these additions turning the television into a dashboard for the smart home, Samsung looks to be the first to successfully make good on the promise of putting the biggest screen at the center of connected living.