All about web cameras...

What is a web camera? This seems like a simple enough question until you try to answer it. Or, until you ask the question of three different people and get three different answers. So, let's keep it simple.

Web cameras are video capturing devices which basically means capturing an image in analog form and converting it to digital.

A little web camera history...

Believe it or not, web cameras have been around since 1991 with the first being "CoffeeCam" at Cambridge University - pointed at the computer science department's Krups coffee pot! How exciting...

Web "cams" as the current technology is known, began with "FogCam" at San Francisco State University - probably an appropriate name for that camera's location. This web cam has been up and running without stop since 1994. Since then, reality TV shows and stars who are willing to share their activities by wearing cameras on their heads have made sure web cameras are as popular as ever and here to stay.

Web Cam usage...

Security - sound and/or motion activated. Want to keep an eye on your vacation property? Install web cams and make sure you have signs around stating you've done so. Don't bother with fake signs since the systems themselves are easy to install and affordable. In fact, I recently read that criminals just LOVE it when they find a property with a security sign from a specific company...they have figured out the codes! So keep them guessing with a generic camera/security sign on your property.

Videoconferencing - When added to instant messaging (think AOL, Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger), and with ever-increasing video quality, millions of PC users view via web cam to "chat" with others online. Webcasting and amateur newscasting are two positive uses of the technology. YouTube is positive or negative, depending on how you "look" at it...Online adult sites and privacy concerns have been some of the downside of web cam technology.

As input devices - Think, "Look Ma, no hands"...for this one. Head or otherwise mounted web cams capture movement and range of movement to enhance the the user experience such as in video gaming - allowing total immersion in the "reality" of these environments. Good old time-motion study at it's finest.

What do I need to get up and running?

First identify your goal. What do you want to accomplish with the web cam?

Will you be using the web cam inside or outside? Is clarity a major concern or is image (refresh) rate more of a priority?

Usage Considerations...