Sony’s new TV webcam will tell you when you're sitting too close to the screen

Sony's new TV webcam will tell you when you're sitting as well close to the screen

(Paradigm credit: Sony)

We couldn't escape the age of social distancing without a few of the best webcams designed specifically for TVs, letting yous concord video calls without getting up from your burrow. Just Sony'due south new Bravia Cam, revealed during CES 2022, isn't merely a webcam — it'southward besides a sensor that automatically adjusts Tv set settings based on your location and proximity. It supports gesture controls, too.

The Sony Bravia Cam tin can recognize where users are sitting to optimize picture and audio settings such as brightness levels, also as alert a user when they're sitting also close to the screen. When the Bravia Cam doesn't sense anyone in the room, it tin can close the TV off to save power. All of these settings are individually enabled, so users can pick and choose which features they want to introduce to their Bravia Cam feel.

Of these Bravia Cam features, I'm most intrigued past proximity alerts. Sitting too shut to the TV for an extended period can be harmful to middle wellness. While adults should be more than aware of how close to sit down to a Television, children might demand visual warnings. When the Bravia Cam senses someone budgeted too close to the Tv set, a pop up bulletin will appear at the bottom of the screen. If the person remains too close, a total-screen observe volition cake what's on TV and sound an alert.

Now for the least-compelling feature. While the Bravia Cam promises gesture controls that allow you navigate your TV, I feel similar I'd be ameliorate off leaving this tool disabled, especially if the set has far-field mics. Gesture controls are often fickle, though I guess I should still requite the Bravia Cam the benefit of the dubiousness.

I'll say the same for privacy concerns. Though a device positioned on top of my TV that faces me while I'm watching sounds creepy, I can think of information technology more similar one of the best cameras for photography The Bravia Cam is intelligent enough to know when someone's in frame, but it doesn't record actions or reels for playback. No information leaves the device, either. At that place'southward even a physical lens shutter for added peace of mind.

The fact that the Bravia Cam is a webcam compatible with the all-time video chat apps for your TV is a total side note. Maybe I'm just tired of using video calls to stay in touch, but you certainly won't catch me pausing The Book of Boba Fett to reply a video chat while I'm comfy on my couch.

Sony's Bravia Cam arrives aslope the Sony 2022 Television receiver lineup and comes bundled with the new Z9K and A95K Serial, both of which have magnetic terminals for mounting the camera direct on the Idiot box. Optionally, customers can add a Bravia Cam to the 2022 A90K, A80K, X95K, X90K, X85K, X80K Series via USB, though there'south no data still nearly how much the webcam will cost on its ain.

Be sure to check out all the latest product news at our CES 2022 alive blog.

Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom'due south Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she's non in cyborg mode, y'all can find her on an exercise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army volition rule the world one 24-hour interval, but until and then, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.