Similar to video cameras, webcams allow users to capture video from a computer and stream it to the Internet. Many webcams are external devices that can be purchased separately. Others are integrated into computers, often in laptops.
Webcam Uses
Although webcams are traditionally used for capturing and streaming video for entertainment or teleconferencing purposes, they can be used in numerous other applications. Hundreds of webcams around the world stream live video from specific locations, such as the World Trade Center Ground Zero location, United States landmarks in Washington DC and the Eiffel Tower in France.Official Site: EarthCamEarthCam: Eiffel Tower Cam Other webcams are used to monitor remote locations, such as a room with a sleeping baby or a home while owners are on vacation.HowStuffWorks: How Webcams Work
Webcam Early History
The first webcam is believed to have originated at the computer science laboratory of the University of Cambridge in England in 1991. The device was called the "coffeecam" because it was pointed at a coffee pot. http://timerime.com/en/timeline/377121/History+of+the+Webcam/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/coffee/coffee.html In 1996, Jennifer Kaye Ringley became the first person to have broadcast her or his life on the Internet.http://timerime.com/en/timeline/377121/History+of+the+Webcam/
Top Webcam Manufacturers
Built-in Laptop Webcam
Many laptops now come with a built-in webcam. In this episode of Eye Openers, the built-in webcam is described as something many people have but do not utilize. The presenter Josiah Trutter of Birmingham then describes several applications of the gadget. He shows how to launch these applications in a typical laptop with a built-in webcam.
References
Fast Facts
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Used to capture or stream video
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Webcams cost anywhere from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.CNET: Webcams Reviews
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Oldest continuously running webcam, nicknamed Fogcam, has been running since 1994 at San Francisco State University.Golden Gate Press: Happy Birthday Fogcam (September 30, 2004)
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The first webcam was developed at the University of Cambridge.
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Jennifer Kaye Ringley is the first person to have broadcast her or his life on the Internet.
