Talk:Webcam

Orphaned article that could...

Either be linked or merged to and from this one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_webcams). But I'm half unsure and half to lazy to go through and make a stylistically correct process of either Undead Herle King (talk) 03:33, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Software & How-to's

This article could seriously use some clues to help people who want to put their own webcam on the web, everyone can already get their hands on the cameras, but nobody knows how to set up a live, real time, full motion video feed. Certainly not easily. And then nobody knows how to make mulitple cameras give feeds from the same site. And then there's no mention of how to let users take command of Pan / Tilt / Zoom functions, if a camera even has that.

Maybe a techie from the webcam pr0n industry could write us a how-to and place a link to it here?

I wouldn't really write how-to's. That will be to specific for each piece of hardware and platform and there's other sites for that, like howtoforge (not to be treated as an endorsement, just search google for more). Howtos are not encyclopedic enough if you ask me. What I would like to see though is a list of chat and/or voip programs that support webcams and videoconferencing, their license, on which operating systems they run and whether or not they support encryption. Mykeyspace 22:56, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

Requested move

This article has been renamed as the result of a move request. From web cam to webcam. Enjoy. –Hajor 19:19, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

"Webcam" yields about 41,200,000 Google hits. "Web cam" yields about 6,570,000 Google hits (less than 1/6 as many) and a suggestion that the user might have meant "webcam" (which is the far more common spelling). —Lifeisunfair 23:57, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

Add *Support or *Oppose followed by an optional brief explanation, and sign your vote with: ~~~~

• Support, for the reason cited above. —Lifeisunfair 23:57, 4 October 2005 (UTC)
• Support, "webcam" is the more common usage. -- Curps 06:51, 5 October 2005 (UTC)
• Suppport I've never come across the spelling "web cam". Borisblue 23:15, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

Since the vote&move is over&done, is it appropriate to remove this section? Is there a guideline on deleting stuff like this from talk pages?

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Perhaps we can put a section on the page of "Notable events captured (intentionally or not) on webcam". I have one that deserves mention:

• Brandon Vedas dies by overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol

You'd consider that notable? I doubt you'll get more than 3, and even then they'll be questionable. Troubleshooter 20:58, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Please, if we can come up with one or two more, let's make this a section on the article.

Anthropos 01:12, 16 Dec 2003 (UTC)

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The first webcam was pointed at this trojan room since when? 3 years ago? 50 years ago? thanks, Yonidebest 17:45, 22 September 2005 (UTC)

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Popularity

Comments/changes before I add this section? Several factors are leading the explosion in webcam popularity. Network effects (each person who has a webcam makes other webcams more useful; similarly, a phone is not useful if no one else has one), low costs and adult video are primary. Software enhancements that have made them easier to use:

1. Features that link to Instant Messaging systems, or community websites, make it easier to find and establish links with other webcam users.
2. Integrated image manipulation software can make webcams more pleasant to use, providing features such as wrinkle reduction, and aspect ratio change (look thinner), encouraging adoption. Elvey 18:22, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

Have webcams really be utilized to their full potiental? The use of webcams to drive traffic to websites appears to have crested in the early 2000s. I, personally, am still shock at the lack of webcams on the net. One would have thought that webcam use would have taken off. --Jason Gaudet (talk) 22:35, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

External link

it has been suggested that the external link I removed should be replaced under the "fansite" terms of Wikipedia:External links. Please discuss. - brenneman^{T}{L} 23:56, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

My rationale was, pretty much: Though these links *do* attaract vandalism, and most of them *could* probably do with being removed, a single link to a directory of webcams seems reasonable - and, indeed, in line with section 3 of 'occasionally acceptable links' from Wikipedia:External links. - Mike1024 (t/c) 00:31, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I've just noticed the page List of live webcams of places around the world. No external links would probably be a good idea. - Mike1024 (t/c) 22:25, 26 March 2006 (UTC)

I've been working on an open webcam directory [WeatherBonk http://weatherbonk.com/weather/webcams.jsp]. It's a personal project (not a corportation trying to make money) that allows users to add and modify and geocode webcams and is now over 8000 cams. I spent sometime looking for a comprehensive cam directory and couldn't find anything nearly as comprehensive or useful. I'm not sure if this is something you would permit in the links section. Thanks david

Cited book

Has anyone actually read the book which is cited? Just citing a random book with 'webcam' in the title seems pointless from a verifiability standpoint IMHO 193.131.176.54 16:30, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

NECESITO INFORMACION DE LOS TIPOS DE WEBCAM QUE EXISTEN

Sexual activity

Seriously, there's no mention of people using webcams for sexual acts. It's pretty common (erm isn't it?). Mglovesfun 23:41, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

There's a bit saying "As with many new technologies, webcams and webcam chat found early commercial adoption and aggressive technology advancement through use by the pornography industry. The adult industry required 'live' images and requested a Dutch developer [...]" - were you thinking of more information than that? If so, go ahead and edit it in! Mike1024 (t/c) 07:50, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

Pornography seems to imply commercial. But a lot of webcam sex is hobby stuff. I know I get a lot of hits on my webcam site which, from the search strings, clearly show that people are associating "webcam" with "pictures of naked girls". 219.77.184.86 (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 02:38, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Someone has vandalized the page adding the text, "As webcam see my dick" and screwing up everything else in the section.. I'll revert to the most recent. 05:57, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

Built-in Webcams?

Almost every laptop offers a built-in webcam these days - A trend no doubt started by Apple after it started including built-in iSight cameras with every single iMac, Macbook Pro, and Macbook. But was Apple the first? They were probably the first to offer it unilaterally and popularize it, but can anyone confirm which laptops were the first to include a built-in webcam? --Zippo 19:53, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

The first I can remember was the VAIO PictureBook / PCG-C1 - but I don't have a cite for that, so I might be wrong. Mike1024 (t/c) 23:25, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Ede6772 (talk) 01:13, 5 April 2011 (UTC)Webcams are a popular 'built-in' option for laptops, however its not considered a 'universal' feature yet. More soon, more than likely all webcams will have built in webcams. If computers are not equipped with a webcam, to install one is farely easy and low cost. More details at http://www.consumersearch.com/webcam-reviews/laptop-webcams --Ede6772 (talk) 01:13, 5 April 2011 (UTC) (Ede6772)

Faked photo

The Army image under Videoconferencing is nice and touching but as the discussion at Image talk:TSgt Goodman inspects newest member of family.jpg notes it is obviously faked. The image of the baby was clearly photoshopped onto it and the list of rules above computer forbids use of webcams so this artistic picture is just a bit of propaganda/false advertising. It would be desirable to replace this image with a real one. DoubleBlue (Talk) 16:28, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

Merge of Use of webcams into this article

I personally feel the article Use of webcams merely covers an aspect of the technology itself, and with this article not too long, I don't really see why that article shouldn't just belong to a section called "Applications" or something like that? — Northgrove 14:49, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

done

--62.251.21.22 (talk) 17:05, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Wiring diagram

Perhaps a electrical wiring diagram schematics of a webcam with hardwired LED for the privacy section. That I would like to see. -- Frap (talk) 23:19, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Advertisment

This seems like an ad

Most webcams feature built in microphones to make video conferencing more convenient. Creative Technology has introduced a webcam featuring built in noise cancellation to focus the audio to the speaker who is directly in front of the camera, excluding ambient noise.

Page history

I've moved some history that used to be at the title webcam to Talk:Webcam/History. Graham87 12:51, 14 October 2008 (UTC)

Night vision

In an article in Elektor magazine (december 2010), it is noted that any webcam can also modified to include night vision. All that is required is to not have an infrared filter on the webcam (so this needs to be removed if present) and infrared leds (or an infrared led floodlight) needs to be added. 91.182.239.56 (talk) 09:30, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

Name of the article

Aren't webcams cameras that you can actually view through the web? I think this is different from videophoning. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.93.102.215 (talk) 22:38, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

Sales

Worldwide sales of PC cameras by year:

• 2006: market value at 1.2 billion USD [1]
• 2004: 18 million units [2]
• 1999: 2.9 million units [3]

. —  Ark25  (talk) 23:49, 14 September 2011 (UTC)