| How web broadcasting works | | | | of prices is available for this type of application. |
| Webcams are those handy little cameras that | | | | Simply search though au to compare prices and |
| attach to your PC and send images to a web | | | | specifications. Dedicated webcams are simple to |
| page that can be viewed by others. This enables | | | | install and easy to use, but come with limitations |
| you to share daily life events with friends and | | | | that affect the quality of the images, such as low |
| family in other parts of the country or the world, | | | | number of frames per second (refresh rates) and |
| or to arrange a video-conference with colleagues | | | | resolution (pixels per inch). |
| and maintain long distance relationships of all kinds. | | | | Camcorders and security cameras |
| Of course the number of ways to use this | | | | Higher quality images and more camera control |
| technology is limited only by your imagination. | | | | come from using camcorder and security |
| Web Cameras | | | | cameras. To use these devices you will need to |
| But before you buy a webcam, it pays to | | | | add a video capture card to your PC. Once you |
| understand a little about how the technology of | | | | have that installed however, you can use a wide |
| broadcasting images over the Internet works. Of | | | | range of cameras from broadcast cameras to |
| course, if you're a full bottle on this already, you | | | | miniature spy cameras. You can include variable |
| can skip this section and go straight to browsing | | | | lens options, filters for daylight and low light |
| the options on au where you can compare | | | | situations, as well as robotic controls for panning |
| products and suppliers, their specifications and | | | | and focus adjustments. You can search through |
| prices. | | | | au for camcorder selections. |
| Webcams provide 'real time' images of people; | | | | Integrated cameras |
| places and events that can be viewed 'live' on a | | | | An integrated camera combines the camera and |
| web page. The broadcasting end has a camera | | | | the optical hardware with a video server, and as |
| that captures the images, feeds them into a | | | | such requires no additional software. They can be |
| computer to an ISP and out to viewing pages | | | | used in network situations or as stand-alone |
| across the Internet. There are two different | | | | devices for monitoring progress on a construction |
| types of broadcast: streaming images, where the | | | | project for example. |
| images are a constant stream downloaded in | | | | Megapixel cameras |
| video format; or Java, where the images are | | | | Network megapixel cameras combine network |
| captured at fixed time intervals and refreshed on | | | | capability with high quality digital camera |
| the web pages at a rate fixed by the | | | | technology. These cameras offer excellent quality |
| broadcaster. | | | | but this creates large files sizes, therefore they |
| The Applications – What are you intending | | | | have limited application in constant streaming |
| to broadcast, and to whom? | | | | video. However for interval refreshed archive |
| There is a wide range of uses of webcam | | | | image collection, they are ideal, providing a |
| technology. Some examples include personal 'Big | | | | constant record and high quality. You can search |
| Brother' style diaries, sharing of family events, | | | | through au for digital camera selections. |
| workplace security, video conferencing, virtual | | | | SOFTWARE |
| tourism, road traffic management, weather | | | | If you are not using an integrated camera |
| watching, event broadcast and a host of others. | | | | solution, you will need to install an encoding |
| Before you make a choice about any webcam | | | | program like Webcaster or MediaCaster to |
| equipment, it helps to decide exactly how you | | | | transfer your images to a web page. |
| want to use the technology, in other words, what | | | | At the receiver end, when web surfers browse |
| you are intending to broadcast. This decision will | | | | the internet and wish to view live video on the |
| impact upon the type of camera you use, and | | | | web for the first time, they will need to download |
| how you use it. | | | | dedicated applications that show the content such |
| A second consideration is, who will be viewing | | | | as an ActiveX control, Windows Media player, |
| your content? What level of quality is expected? | | | | Flash player or the like. |
| This will help determine the type of camera you | | | | INTERNET CONNECTION |
| use, the software involved and your Internet | | | | Finally, you need an Internet connection. The |
| connection. Of course, your Internet connection | | | | hardware you will need may include a modem for |
| may be a limitation on how much you can do. | | | | dial-up connection, or modem/router for a |
| The requirements for video conferencing are | | | | broadband solution. Naturally the higher the quality |
| different from the requirements of workplace | | | | you want, or the faster refresh rate you want, |
| security, which are different again from the | | | | the more bandwidth you will need. ADSL |
| requirements of sharing a family event. | | | | (Broadband) is going to offer you the best |
| The physical components | | | | solution, but keep in mind what your Internet |
| There are a number of physical components | | | | connection when you are making choices of |
| required to make web cam technology work. At | | | | cameras and feeder software. |
| the top of the list is the camera itself. Then, | | | | Webcam applications work well with wireless |
| depending on the type of camera you use and | | | | solutions. Make sure when you are purchasing a |
| the way in which you want to deliver the content | | | | camera or network video solution that it is |
| to the Internet, you may need to incorporate | | | | compatible with any wireless system you may be |
| video capture hardware in your computer. Some | | | | using in a LAN. |
| software is required to help you process the | | | | Key considerations |
| data, and Internet connection is required and a | | | | The specifications that are variable with webcam |
| web page into which the data is fed. | | | | applications, and are affected by camera type, |
| CAMERA CHOICES | | | | web interface and Internet connection, include the |
| Your choice of camera depends somewhat on | | | | number of frames per second and the image |
| what you are intending to show. If you need to | | | | resolution. |
| reach a large public audience yo may want good | | | | Frames-per-second is the number of times a still |
| quality camcorder or megapixel camera that | | | | image flashes by in a second to give the |
| captures high quality images. If it's just for seeing | | | | appearance of moving pictures. In Australia, the |
| who's at your front door or keeping an eye on | | | | standard television PAL format is at 25 frames |
| the kids in their playroom, then it may not need | | | | per second. A webcam with up to 30 frames per |
| to present high quality images. If you are intending | | | | second will show normal video images. But the |
| to use it outdoors, it will need to be weather | | | | more frames per second you demand, the more |
| proof and you may need to consider sun and UV | | | | bandwidth, memory and processing power is |
| protection. Available power supply and any robotic | | | | required. |
| requirements for camera movement and focus | | | | Resolution is measured the number of pixels per |
| are extra considerations. | | | | inch. High quality photographs require a high |
| Dedicated webcams | | | | resolution. But the standard for web images is a |
| The most basic webcams connect to a PC using | | | | low 72 dpi. Higher resolution images will not be of |
| a simple USB connection. A wide range of | | | | any better visual quality, just slower to upload and |
| cameras with accompanying software at a range | | | | download. |