After years of no evolution in webcams, manufacturers are working on notable improvements in image - and sound - to accommodate the increased reliance on teleworking linked to the coronavirus health crisis.
Overview of innovations that could change our daily lives.
The coronavirus epidemic has seen the use of teleworking become widespread ... And with it, the multiplication of remote meetings, thanks to different videoconferencing software, and with more or less efficient tools.
If you're tired of blurry images and fluctuating sound, good news: a new generation of computers and displays is coming, and it's specially designed to make you stand out in front of the camera.
>> Find all of Anicet Mbida's chronicles in podcast and replay here
Years without evolution of webcams
These new equipment will, for example, add lamps on each side or all around the screen.
The face will thus be perfectly lit at all times: no more backlighting when you have a window behind you!
We also improve the quality of webcams to obtain a more flattering image.
And it was about time, because webcams hadn't really evolved in years.
>> LIVE
- Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Thursday, February 4
There are even models that integrate up to three webcams (for close-up, medium-shot and wide-shot), which gives a little more choice in the staging.
These changes will be incorporated directly into several new laptop models, like those from NexstGo - with three webcams and lighting around the screen.
A tool to make conversations more understandable
We are also starting to see a lot of external screens that add lighting and the webcam.
Some even have special buttons to start the video conference, mute the sound or lock the camera and avoid being filmed without your knowledge.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> What place for teleworking after the coronavirus?
> Are adolescents vectors of contamination?
> Advice from a psychotherapist to get through this period as well as possible
> How does "CleanCovid", the anti-coronavirus lamp work
> How will the citizens' committee responsible for monitoring vaccination work?
There is also work on the audio, because at home, it is sometimes difficult to understand what is said in a meeting.
To remedy this, Dolby, the Hi-Fi specialist, has just created a sound standard reserved for videoconferences, Dolby Voice.
It automatically suppresses background noise and echo and makes conversations more understandable.
When several people speak at the same time, the voices are separated and spatialized, rather than layered like today.
A technology that could simplify the lives of many teleworkers.