The Plexicam Mag2 is a clever and simple way to make eye contact during video meetings.
The best ideas are often the simplest and end up solving a real-world problem. That’s exactly what the Plexicam Mag2 does for video calls and live streaming. This ingenious device could change your Zoom meetings forever.
A major problem when communicating over Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Facetime or any other video streaming platform is the position of your webcam. Most of us have few options but to place our webcam on the top of our computer screens. And as many of us use larger screens these days, it means your webcam is likely to offer a high and unflattering view of your head.
A webcam that looks down on your head will distort your facial features and make it hard for you to make eye contact with the other people on the call. While you are looking at the person you are talking to on the screen, you can’t be looking directly into the webcam. Psychologists will tell you that making eye contact is an important tool in establishing trust and a meaningful connection with someone, especially during remote video meetings.
The Mag2 lets you secure your webcam to the middle of your computer screen using nothing more … [+]
So, what’s the solution to this problem? How do you manage to have a flattering view of your face and make eye contact? The complicated answer could be a high-tech solution where a webcam is built into a computer display and a small square of pixels is disabled during a call so you can look directly into the camera lens.
That solution is a way off yet and likely to be expensive. An easier answer could be magnetism. Few people realize that most computer displays have enough metallic content to hold a magnet. The Plexicam Mag2 is a simple holder for a webcam that sticks to a computer screen with nothing more complicated than a strong magnet.
The Plexicam Mag2 has a powerful magnet in its base and an adjustable universal joint for precise positioning of a webcam. The device includes a clever USB elbow joint that makes it easy to connect a webcam’s cable vertically, so the Mag2 sits almost flush with the screen.
The Mag2 from Plexicam is a simple solution to a serious problem.
I was suspicious at first but when the Mag2 turned up, I just stuck it in the center of my Mac mini’s 27-inch 4K screen. By placing it at my eye level, next to the window showing my Zoom or Skype calls, I could immediately make eye contact with the other people on the call. It’s such a clever idea. There are no complicated electronics involved and it’s the simplest of solutions relying only on magnetism.
I used the Plexicam Mag2 with a Logitech Brio webcam, although the Plexicam Mag2 works with most brands and models. It works best with webcams that have a USB Type-C port at the rear, but the kit comes with several adapters to convert a USB-C port to a right angle. There’s also a long cable and some metal anchoring discs for use on the few screens that aren’t magnetic.
The Plexicam Mag2 works in most situations and it’s easy to use. However, a word of warning, don’t drag the Mag2 across your display to reposition it as you might end up scratching the surface of your computer display should there be a small piece of grit or detritus trapped under the soft plastic surface of the Mag2’s mount. If you do need to reposition the webcam, carefully pull the Mag2 off the screen and then reposition it. Also, it’s a good idea to wipe the underside of the mounting pad to always ensure it’s clean and free from grit.
The Mag2 can also be used to place lights or a microphone to a computer display.
As well as being useful for holding webcams, the Plexicam Mag2 is ideal for attaching lights or microphones to a screen. It’s a simple idea and yet it makes a massive difference to video meetings or livestreaming. And once you’ve used the Plexicam Mag2, you won’t go back to perching your webcam on the top of your computer screen or laptop. Making direct eye contact will give you the edge over people who are only showing you the top of their head.
Verdict: This ingenious little gadget could be a huge success. It helps to make eye contact during video calls using the simplest of technologies. I’ve not seen anything like this before and I think the Plexicam Mag2 could prove massively popular and will make a big difference when taking part in video calls or livestreaming at work. The price does seem a little high, but once production levels have been ramped up, the costs should fall.
Pricing & Availability: The Plexicam Mag2 is launching on Indiegogo and prices start from $53. As always, please undertake due diligence as your rights when from crowdfunding sites may not be the same as when buying from online or physical stores.
