Webcam Digital Video Camera

“Captures video and save footages into digital taoes, optical discs, or hard drives”

Apple ISight
(Image taken from: http://macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2004/11/23/gifts.html)

Webcams are essentially simple technology devices. They becomes complex only when it comes to their functionality. A webcam setup includes a digital camera, usually attached to a computer, and a connector, usually through a USB port.

Webcams grabs image frames from the digital cameras and transfers the images to another location for viewing. Often, webcams work at a slow rate thus presenting still images at a time. Users who want to use webcams for video streaming may opt to use a webcam system with a higher frame rate. Frame rates refer to how many pictures a software can get and transfer to another location in a second. Ideally, webcams with high frame rates require the use of high speed Internet connection.

Webcams are used primarily for live audio and video streams on computers. Webcams easily allows you to monitor something. Many use this type of digital video camera for video calls and conferencing.

Some webcams have advanced features such as motion sensing, image archiving, video messaging.

Sony PSP Webcam
(Image taken from: http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/05/01/sony_gocam_2.jpg)

Leading providers of webcams include:
-Apple Inc.
-Creative Technology & Creative Labs
-D-Link
-Genius
-Guillemot-Hercules
-Labtec
-Lenovo
-Logitech
-Linksys by Cisco
-Microsoft
-Philips
-Samsung
-Sony

Sources:

- http://computer.howstuffworks.com/webcam.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_telecommunication_
services_and_product_brands#Webcam_hardware_brands_
for_use_on_personal_computers