Web Cams
Why buy a
Web cam? For anyone interested in streaming video conferencing for business or live audio/visual chatting with friends and family, Web cams are a great device. Plus, Web cams offer a convenient and cost effective method of monitoring your home. There are entire online communities surrounding Web cam technology. These devices easily connect to your computer or laptop via a USB port. Just follow the simple instructions for quick and easy installation.
How They Work
* Essentially, Web cams are just digital video cameras hooked up to your computer, though with generally less impressive specs.
* It periodically takes a photo, which is transfered via a software program dedicated to that purpose, then links them up to an Internet Web cam server for others to see.
* Most users create a Web page that is dedicated to their Web cam feeds. If you have a constant Internet connection, your images can be continually refreshed, otherwise they will only appear when you are online.
* For more information on the refreshing Webserver
Webcam 32, click
here. Or check out
TrueTech.
The Specs
* Two main specs to look at are seed and resolution, also refered to as Max Frame Rate and Max Video Rate.
* '''Max Frame Rate''' is measured by fps (frames per second). The max frame rate determines the speed at which the video image is reproduced.
** Movies are usually 30 fps. You won't get that much from a Web cam, but you might be able to get play video quality as long as your fps rate isn't too far below.
* '''Max Video Rate''' describes a Web cam's pixel capacity, or '''resolution'''.
** Standard Resolution is 320x240 which should be enough for average Web cam use. For full-screen resolution use 640x480.
* The best of course would be to get a Web cam that has both a high fps and a high resolution. However, Web cams with high resolution often suffer in the speed department, and vice versa.
* If you spend a large amount on a Web cam you could probably get both features, but don't waste money on an expensive Web cam unless your Internet connection is as fast as the Web cam. Web cams work best with cable, DSL, or other high-speed Internet connections.
* You can get a decent model for less than $100.
Other Features
* Zoom
* Tilt
* Pan
* Privacy Lens Covers
* Focus Knob
* Shape, Size and Mobility
Audio Compatibility
* Don't forget that the Web cam is essentially a video device, not an audio device.
* If you are planning on doing any chatting or live video conferencing, you will need to purchase a
headset or check to make sure that your computer can handle the audio through an internal microphone and headphone jack.
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