Sense of Quartz
BRAVIA: watching
the future of
televisions
Some BRAVIA TVs now support 4K, with four times the resolution of HD.
Advantages in image quality are only the start.
Look for better audio quality and usability, too.
The future of TVs is clear in BRAVIA.
Industrial Design
〈BRAVIA X9000A series〉
Sublime pictures and sound
in a plane of glass
At the pinnacle of resolution stand 4K BRAVIA sets, with impressive audio performance to match. Updating their design was our task in this year’s X9000A series. How should we design the front-facing side speakers? We took a cue from the common association of circles with superior audio performance, which inspired our target image in the design narrative—as if the glass surface has been scooped away to expose sound.
Imagining the superb pictures and sound crystallized in the glass, we thought the texture of the glass itself could directly convey the sublime viewing experience and aptly demonstrate our desired Sense of Quartz.
Into uncharted territory
Here, the circle’s expansion off the edge makes the speakers look more powerful. However, this required us to bore into the glass until we cut through the edge, which was something even glass manufacturers had no experience with. What’s more, this glass is only 0.7–0.8 mm thick. In fabrication demanding the ultimate in precision, we succeeded in getting the details perfect.
Note: In Japan, sets with the same design as the X9000A series will be available in the X9200A series.
User Interface Design
〈BRAVIA〉
Next-generation remotes
The One-touch Remote tames the complexity of TVs, which now offer access to a range of entertainment and online content. By focusing control on on-screen operations in the graphical user interface, or GUI, we kept buttons to a minimum and adopted a simple design specifically for cursor operations. Diamond-shaped, inward-slanted keys signal which direction each cursor key is for, making the remote easy to use without looking.
An NFC module embedded in the back simplifies device connections through easy, touch-based pairing with compatible Xperia™ smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices. And to prevent scratches when devices are touched together, the back of the remote is made of soft urethane plastic.
on-screen operations
We determined the ideal length, width, and other details of the remote so that keys are easy to press, and we faceted the back cover so it’s easier to hold. Its outstanding usability comes from carefully selected shapes and materials, so even the remote is true to our Sense of Quartz ideals. Now and in the future, remotes will need to simplify complex on-screen operations. With the One-touch Remote, we offer a viable solution for next-generation needs.
Oikawa, producer and senior designer
Enlightened TV interactivity
The Intelligent Core introduced in this BRAVIA line is an approach to harnessing light as a UI element. Examples include illumination in response to pressing buttons on the remote, or tangible movement of light to represent content transfer from a mobile device to the TV. To make it happen, we took a wholly new approach—LED illumination synced with on-screen animation that simulates light. The result is a unique user experience, with dynamic light serving as a meaningful element of interactivity.
In the new illumination created through this project, blue-green is a key color. It matches the feeling of quartz well, and it’s a fitting color for device interaction. Several wireless speakers already incorporate lighting of this color, and we hope it sets the tone for many interactive scenarios with Sony devices in the future.
Kondo, designer
for the finish
The speakers also presented a major challenge for our audio engineers, as we sought optimal styling and performance. Acoustically ideal materials are not necessarily the best materials from the standpoint of design. Diaphragm production is also difficult. It took some trial and error to achieve an attractive, glossy black. And from the resin-covered surfaces around the diaphragms to the Intelligent Core to the aluminum around the bezel, we scrutinized the color tone and finish of each black part to ensure a good match among several materials.
Kuwao, designer