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