Webcams and Video Webcams and Video ConferencingConferencing

By: Emily GrabowskiBy: Emily GrabowskiNew MediaNew MediaWinter 2009Winter 2009

What is a Webcam?What is a Webcam? A simple Webcam setup

consists of a digital camera attached to your computer, typically through the USB port.

Webcam software "grabs a frame" from the digital camera at a preset interval (for example, the software might grab a still image from the camera once every 30 seconds) and transfers it to another location for viewing

Webcam Streaming VideoWebcam Streaming Video

You'll want a Webcam system with a high frame rate.

Frame rate indicates the number of pictures the software can grab and transfer in one second. For streaming video, you need a minimum rate of at least 15 frames per second (fps), and 30 fps is ideal.

To achieve high frame rates, you need a high-speed Internet connection.

Once it captures a frame, the software broadcasts the image over your Internet connection.

Webcam PhotosWebcam Photos Webcam software Webcam software

turns an image into turns an image into a JPEG file and a JPEG file and uploads it to a Web uploads it to a Web server using File server using File Transfer Protocol Transfer Protocol (FTP). You can (FTP). You can easily place a easily place a JPEG image on any JPEG image on any Web page.Web page.

Advanced Webcam Advanced Webcam FeaturesFeatures

Motion sensingMotion sensing - The Webcam takes a new picture when it detects - The Webcam takes a new picture when it detects motion. motion.

Image archivingImage archiving - You can create an archive that saves all of your - You can create an archive that saves all of your Webcam images or only certain images at pre-set intervals. Webcam images or only certain images at pre-set intervals.

Video messagingVideo messaging - Some instant messenger programs support - Some instant messenger programs support Webcam video. Webcam video.

Advanced connectionsAdvanced connections - Use wired or wireless methods to connect - Use wired or wireless methods to connect your home-theater A/V equipment to your Webcam. your home-theater A/V equipment to your Webcam.

AutomationAutomation - Robotic cameras let you set a series of pan/tilt positions - Robotic cameras let you set a series of pan/tilt positions and program frame-capture settings based on the position of the and program frame-capture settings based on the position of the camera. camera.

Streaming mediaStreaming media - For professional applications, a Webcam setup can - For professional applications, a Webcam setup can use MPEG4 compression to achieve true streaming audio and video use MPEG4 compression to achieve true streaming audio and video (this is the compression system used in most of the popular PC-based (this is the compression system used in most of the popular PC-based media players). media players).

Custom codingCustom coding - Import your own computer code to tell the Webcam - Import your own computer code to tell the Webcam what to do. what to do.

One example of custom coding is a set of commands that makes a One example of custom coding is a set of commands that makes a Webcam image Webcam image automatically refreshautomatically refresh..

Uses for WebcamsUses for Webcams You will be out of town for a week and you You will be out of town for a week and you

want to keep an eye on your house. want to keep an eye on your house. You'd like to be able to check on the baby You'd like to be able to check on the baby

sitter and make sure everything is OK while sitter and make sure everything is OK while you are at work. you are at work.

You'd like to know what your dog does in You'd like to know what your dog does in the back yard all day. the back yard all day.

You want to let the grandparents watch the You want to let the grandparents watch the new baby during nap time. new baby during nap time.

Video NetworkingVideo Networking

Webcam NetworkingWebcam Networking You can place a standard camera anywhere

in the house and run a video cable with RCA jacks on it from the camera to the computer. There are all sorts of places on the Web that sell small pinhole video cameras, either on their own or embedded in things like clocks and smoke detectors. You can find small security cameras for less than $100.

You can avoid the cable by using a radio link (X10: XRay Vision is one example of this type of product), an Ethernet connection or a WiFi setup.

Webcam Networking con’tWebcam Networking con’t You can get software that will let you make video

phone calls with a friend who also has a Webcam. You can hold a video-conferencing session with

business associates on the other side of the world. You can conduct a video interview and broadcast it

live on your blog. Some Webcam software will even deliver images

directly to your Web-enabled PDA or smart phone. Other products let you connect your camcorder to

your Webcam setup so you can let everybody watch your vacation footage via the Internet. The possibilities are endless.

Skype.comSkype.com Just for starters you can instant Just for starters you can instant

message with anyone on your contact message with anyone on your contact list or even use group chat to chat with list or even use group chat to chat with up to a hundred people. up to a hundred people.

You could hold a conference call with You could hold a conference call with up to nine other people to organize a up to nine other people to organize a get-together and then use SkypeFind™ get-together and then use SkypeFind™ to search for the perfect venue to hold to search for the perfect venue to hold it.it.

'Crime' spotted a world 'Crime' spotted a world away by Webcamaway by Webcam

An Australian tipped off British police after watching via webcam An Australian tipped off British police after watching via webcam what appeared to be a robbery taking place in the England.what appeared to be a robbery taking place in the England.

Andrew Pritchard, of Boorowa in NSW, was surfing the net on his Andrew Pritchard, of Boorowa in NSW, was surfing the net on his new high-speed broadband connection by checking out a webcam new high-speed broadband connection by checking out a webcam ( ( http://http://www.exmouthcam.co.uk/webcam.htmwww.exmouthcam.co.uk/webcam.htm ) in Exmouth on ) in Exmouth on England's south coast when he noticed two men run from a car to England's south coast when he noticed two men run from a car to a beach-front kiosk in the middle of the night.a beach-front kiosk in the middle of the night.

"I was about to log off when this car came along and stopped "I was about to log off when this car came along and stopped abruptly on the Esplanade," he told the abruptly on the Esplanade," he told the BBC.BBC.

"Two guys got out and headed directly to the kiosk, they appeared "Two guys got out and headed directly to the kiosk, they appeared to try out the shutters, it looked like they were trying to break in."to try out the shutters, it looked like they were trying to break in."

Mr Pritchard quickly contacted British police who raced to the spot Mr Pritchard quickly contacted British police who raced to the spot to discover not a robbery, but a domestic argument - a man and a to discover not a robbery, but a domestic argument - a man and a woman arguing.woman arguing.

"Needless to say getting information from the other side of the "Needless to say getting information from the other side of the world like this is not an everyday event," a police spokesman said world like this is not an everyday event," a police spokesman said

Lava Lamp WebcamLava Lamp Webcam

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=OksK9lPLg1o=OksK9lPLg1o

Future of WebcamsFuture of Webcams

3-D Webcam—3-D Webcam—MinoruMinoru

About MinoruAbout Minoru Unveiled on the eve of Unveiled on the eve of

the opening on Thursday, the opening on Thursday, January 8 of the annual January 8 of the annual Consumer Electronics Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Show (CES)

Has two cameras spaced Has two cameras spaced about the same distance about the same distance apart as human eyes.apart as human eyes.

The British-designed The British-designed webcam comes with five webcam comes with five pairs of special colored pairs of special colored glasses to provide the 3D glasses to provide the 3D image and a stand that image and a stand that allows it to be perched on allows it to be perched on a desk or a computer a desk or a computer monitor.monitor.

About Minoru con’tAbout Minoru con’t The Minoru, which means "reality" in The Minoru, which means "reality" in

Japanese, can be used with Windows Japanese, can be used with Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and other video messenger, OoVoo and other video conferencing systems.conferencing systems.

It can take still pictures, record 3-D video It can take still pictures, record 3-D video for YouTube or be used as a normal 2-D for YouTube or be used as a normal 2-D Webcam.Webcam.

The Minoru will be available this month The Minoru will be available this month and costs $89.95and costs $89.95

Response to MinoruResponse to Minoru

““...aside from the cute factor, the ...aside from the cute factor, the design does mean it is easy to talk to. design does mean it is easy to talk to. Rather than staring down the lens of a Rather than staring down the lens of a webcam, you can talk straight to the webcam, you can talk straight to the camera and feel fairly natural doing it, camera and feel fairly natural doing it, because the lenses are spaced pretty because the lenses are spaced pretty much like human eyes”—pocket-lint much like human eyes”—pocket-lint blogblog

Other Responses to Other Responses to MinoruMinoru

When video conferencing with an When video conferencing with an important business client, the 3-D important business client, the 3-D glasses don’t portray a very glasses don’t portray a very professional demeanorprofessional demeanor

When video conferencing with anyone, When video conferencing with anyone, do you really want to be seen in those do you really want to be seen in those goofy glasses?goofy glasses?

How long will this technology be on the How long will this technology be on the ‘wow’ list?‘wow’ list?

Thank you!Thank you!

Any questions?Any questions?