Sony Announces Virtual TV Sizer For use in Television Purchase

Aug 29, 2011
Bob Yirka

Sony's new site is very useful - Ambrozojo

Sony Corp. has announced a web site for customers to use to see how different model televisions would look in their living room.

Sony UK has just announced the development of a virtual Internet application that allows potential customers to see how different size and model flat screen television sets will look in their home.

How Does the Sony Virtual TV Sizer Work

Sony has set up a website that potential customers can visit. On the site, the visitor is presented with a "marker" that they can download and print out on their computer. The purpose of the marker is to allow for measuring virtual space in your home.

Once the marker, which is in reality a single sheet of paper (size A4), is printed out, it is set on a table or taped to a wall in the place where the customer would like to have the television, if purchased, sit. The visitor then takes a picture of the marker in the place chosen using a digital camera. The image is then moved to the computer where it is uploaded to the Sony site.

After a few moments, the site displays the image that was uploaded along with a column listing television models for sale. Clicking on one of the models causes the marker in the picture displayed to be replaced by an image of the television chosen. Clicking on different models offered for sale allows for gauging which television would best fit in the area designated.

In addition to the television models being displayed, users can also choose among several options to display content on the television screen, allowing shoppers to more accurately see what such shows (such as a sporting event) would look like on a television of different sizes in their home.

Why Sony Has Set up an Augmented Television Shopping Site

Sony has set up the site for two apparent reasons; the first is to boost sales, obviously, in a down market.

The second reason is not so obvious, but becomes clear as the system is tested. By trying different sizes, Sony is hoping users will buy a bigger televisions set than they originally planned, because when they see the different models "virtually" in their homes, they'll find they have more than enough room for the even the largest of the flat screen television sets offered.

The new augmented technology as Sony calls it is likely to appear on other sites selling different kinds of products, such as clothes, jewelry, paintings or even cars, assuming customers will be more likely to buy if they see how good something looks in their home, or how good they look in something the company is selling.