Webcasting is easy. The Webcam Cookbook ... will show you how.
All you need is a camera and a computer. We'll explain how to set up a webcam for stills or video, how to teleconference and how to connect your webcam to a cellphone. Broadband wireless, panoramics and 3D are also covered. Think of the possibilities. You could mount a web cam on a bike, transmitting images via cell phone. Solar-powered wireless web cams could be anywhere.Be your own network. PC World reviews video utilities and webcam software like InetCam, Camarades, Popcast can host and stream your video. Blue Mountain e-cards
You don't need to launch A Mammoth Expedition, go to Antartica, have live NASA video, look for extraterrestials with Jim Lovell, install the world's smallest cameras in Bird Feeders, the Rainforest, put them in Rockets, the Russian Service Module, Worldwide Webcast of the Century. You can make your own. Broadcast events like weddings or go "live" from your own backyard. It's easy once you know how.
Three Basic Steps:
All you really need is a camera and the software. Get your camera at any superstoreA: Get a camera
Linux software for the Color QuickcamWireless cameras like the $88 X-Cam Anywhere The tiny $39 X-Cam video camera includes 60' of cord 4 hour battery pack and webcam software that might work for wedding coverage Put 'em anywhere. send pictures automatically via CDPD Compact Flash Modem at 19.2K.
The wireless X-ray VisionCam includes a video-to-USB cable and webcam software.
About.com's Internet Conferencing list many tutorials that show you how to setup a Web Camera. PC magazine has a good review of digital cameras and a Video explaining how to setup a Babycam. Webcam World's list of cameras are some definitive WebCam sites while Steve's Digicams has the latest on Megapixel point and shoots.
Bluetooth cards will soon hook to cell phones. Some DigitaCameras run dial-up scripts and deliver the mail...with high rez stills. Sanyo and Flashpoint have a wireless digicam that sends almost live stills anywhere via cell phone. Put one on a mountain and power it with a small solar panel.
Some cameras are switch-hitters, working both as still and "live" video cameras. Creative's, WebCam Go ($150), and Intel's PocketPC Cam ($150), work as both point-and-shoots or as "always-on" video cameras. Intel's camera can record 4 minutes of video - untethered - on 8 Megs of internal ram. Make sure your camera will work with webcam software and wireless devices like the Palm VII will soon put cameras in cell phones (and cellphones in cameras). Cable boxes will have 'em too.
Third generation broadband cellular, due in a year, should make remote "live" broadcasts practical. Sharp's Internet Viewcam, the first with MPEG-4,
There will be 2.4 million cable-modem users and 1.4 million DSL subscribers in the US by the end of 2000 and 18 million broadband homes by 2004. The broadband numbers in 2004 are similar to cable TV penetration in the early 80s. There are 65 million cable homes today. VHS-quality video can be delivered over broadband. On demand. From you.
B. Download the Software:
Webcam software makes the whole thing work. It's available as shareware or shrink wrap packages. WebCam32, the KABcam and Logitech's QuickCam . Kensington's video camera also comes with an associated free web site, the Digital Fridge, where you can post photos and videos.C. The WebCam Recipe:
- Install your webcam software. Tell it to snap a picture called "liveshot.jpg" and ftp it to your server.
- On your home page, add a tag like <IMG SRC="liveshot.jpg">.
- Bingo. You're done. (Of course, it's never that easy)
About.com walks you through the steps of setting up WebCam32's JavaCam. Neil Koban developed it and Surveyor now sells it ($25). He still has a a Webcam 32 Discussion Group. WebCam32 now provides streaming video push technology and Realaudio driver capability. camcity.com, a virtual community, and their Surveyor for PalmOS has the first live wireless webcam viewer for Palm devices.
Webcam software includes InetCam, I-Spy, TuCow's Webcams for Win 95
USB video cameras (like the QuickCam) work great indoors but they often perform poorly in outdoor sunshine and their short cords restrict camera placement. Video cameras using NTSC, S-Video (or DV video) can be moved anywhere while keeping the computer stationary.
First, check webcam software sites to see which video digitizer boards they support, then buy a compatible digitizing board. An expensive video digitizer can be a waste of money if webcam software doesn't work with it.
Webcams have a 1984 quality about them, but you can turn yours off. Webcams can trigger automatically when movement is detected. Handy for recording movement at your vacation home or workplace.
Add Interactivity
Citizens are the riches of a community. Give yours a voice. Here's some other free stuff you might consider adding:
- Message Bay sends your audio and photos. Voiceanimations.com creates animations and greeting cards from your voice with lip-synched animated characters.
- People Link, Net2Phone allow you to add free voice chat
- Postcards and Greeting Cards like Blue Mountain, Cartogra create destination appeal and ambiance for travel and adventure.
- Add Quizes. Beseen allows you to conduct polls and surveys complete with graphic charts. Try your hand at Interactive Education. It's free.
- Guestworld's free guest book is solid, reliable. My mom told me about Guestworld. I like it. It's easy to set up and maintain.
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