A few years ago, Smart TV manufacturers decided to include a webcam on their TVs with which to use video conferencing applications such as Skype. The idea seemed to catch on, however, numerous cases of hacks and security holes ended up taking the idea to the bottom of the showcase.
Are TV cameras back?
Before, almost all TV models had a camera built into the top. At first they were very obvious, and later they began to offer the possibility of hiding them by means of retractable mechanisms or a simple lid. The idea did not work, but it seems that it did not disappear completely, since now it is Xiaomi who plans to launch an accessory with that idea.
It is simply a USB camera that would be placed on top of the television. Now that the pandemic has changed the habits of millions of people around the world, it is possible that it makes more sense than ever to have a camera on television with which to be able to speak with our most distant relatives, and that is perhaps the idea of the launch.
A familiar design
The account of Xiaomi India has dropped it, since with a video in the form of a teaser it has revealed the accessory that will give eyes (or rather an eye) to the Mi TV. It is a device that may sound familiar to some, since it is very similar to a laptop webcam that Xiaomi currently sells on the market, the Mijia HD Webcam.
However, this new accessory seems to be somewhat more modern, since it apparently has two integrated microphones that will reduce outside noise and improve conversation, as well as a larger lens that would presumably give better image quality (and we’ll see if anything else).
An imminent fashion?
The interesting thing about the product is that its presentation coincides with another presentation of another camera for Smart TVs , this time by OnePlus. The manufacturer seems to be also preparing a webcam for its next large-inch launches, so it is quite striking that Xiaomi has also decided to present a similar accessory.
Taking into account the way in which we interact with our mobile phones today, video calls have a large base established in users who make them through their smartphones, so turning their attention to television could be somewhat complicated at the moment . However, recent models such as the Mi TV P1 do not have an integrated camera, so this accessory could serve as a second contact with the idea. Especially if we take into account that it has been presented in India, so we do not know if it will reach other markets.
However, with the help of the Smart TV platforms that exist today (to highlight Google TV), it would be quite easy to think of a social tool that allows watching TV accompanied by another person with the help of a webcam. Is this the future of television that awaits us? Let’s hope, please, that it is not so.
