You couldn't escape the age of social distance without some of the best webcams designed specifically for TVs, allowing you to make video calls without getting up from the couch. But Sony's new Bravia Cam, unveiled at CES 2022, is more than just a webcam; it is also a sensor that automatically adjusts TV settings based on your location and proximity. It also supports gesture control.

Sony's Bravia Cam can recognize where the user is sitting and optimize image and sound settings, including brightness levels. If the Bravia Cam senses that no one is in the room, it can turn off the TV to save power. All of these settings can be activated individually, allowing the user to select the features they wish to introduce into the Bravia Cam experience.

Of these Bravia Cam features, the one that intrigues me the most is the proximity alert. Sitting too close to the TV for long periods of time can be detrimental to eye health. Adults should be more aware of sitting near the TV, but children may need a visual alert. When Braviacam detects that a person is getting too close to the TV, a pop-up message appears at the bottom of the screen. If a person gets too close, the TV is interrupted by a full-screen display and a warning tone sounds.

Now for the most unappealing feature. The Bravia Cam promises gesture controls to navigate the TV, but I feel that this tool should be left disabled. Gesture controls are often fickle, but I still think the Bravia Cam should be given the benefit of the doubt.

The same can be said for privacy concerns. As creepy as a device that sits on top of my TV and turns toward me while I watch sounds, I can rather think of it as one of the best cameras for taking pictures. The data never leaves the device. For added peace of mind, there is also a physical lens shutter.

The fact that the Bravia Cam is a webcam compatible with a video chat app that is perfect for TV is a complete aside. Maybe I'm just tired of keeping in touch via video calls, but I'm not going to pause "The Book of Boba Fett" to answer a video chat while relaxing on the couch.

The Sony Bravia Cam comes with Sony's 2022 TV lineup and is included with the new Z9K and A95K series. As an option, the Bravia Cam can be added to the 2022 A90K, A80K, X95K, X90K, X85K, and X80K series via USB, but there is no information yet on pricing for the webcam alone.

Check out our CES 2022 live blog for the latest product news.