But the technology is still stuck in the Skype Age.
Video calls might be the most primitive services we use.
But thats about to change.
Jasmin Merdan / Getty Images
Why Are Webcams So Bad?
Before we get to the terrible apps, lets find out why webcams are so bad.
Mostly, its down to cost.
The front-facing cameras in iPhones and iPads, for example, are excellent.
They also have depth-sensing features that are great for improving video, but well get to that.
Phones are expensive, whereas laptops are cheap.
Reincubate
Will laptop cameras get better?
Even Apples brand-new iMac, born amid COVID-era video calling, has the same 1080p webcam as previous Macs.
And yet, it looks a lot better than those older Macs.
And thats where software comes in.
This tech can be startling.
The new M1 iPad Pro features Center Stage.
Now, Reincubates Camo does the same thing for the Mac.
People have tended to compare webcams against older, worse cameras: ‘it’s better than nothing.'"
Reincubate
AI can solve other problems, too.
Speech collision, for example, happens when several people talk at once.
Anew patent from IBMfixes this.
Lights, Camera, Camo
While camera quality is important, part of the problem is us.
Desk-bound laptop cameras look up our noses, and we neverlight ourselves properly.
Also, we still dont have a good, shared consensus on how to behave.
As the world reopens, video might be less urgent, but some uses will remain.
Working from home is a welcome trend, as are virtual visits to the doctor or remote yoga sessions.
And hopefully, the video software will continue to improve.
