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