Literacy Connection Abroad (near and far)
with Suzy Hokanson and Bill Reilly
Webcam
A typical webcam Webcams (web cameras) are small cameras (usually, though not always, video cameras), whose images can be accessed using the World Wide Web, instant messaging, or a PC video conferencing application. The term webcam is also used to describe the low-resolution digital video cameras designed for such purposes, but which can also be used to record in a non-real-time fashion. Web-accessible cameras involve a digital camera which uploads images to a web server, either continuously or at regular intervals. This may be achieved by a camera attached to a PC, or by dedicated hardware. Videoconferencing cameras typically take the form of a small camera connected directly to a PC. Analog cameras are also sometimes used (often of the sort used for closed-circuit television), connected to a video capture card and then directly or indirectly to the internet.
Videoconferencing
As webcam capabilities have been added to instant messaging text chat services such as AOL Instant Messenger, one-to-one live video communication over the internet has now reached millions of mainstream PC users worldwide. Increased video quality has helped webcams encroach on traditional video conferencing systems. New features such as lighting, real-time enhancements (retouching, wrinkle smoothing and vertical stretch) can make users more comfortable, further increasing popularity. Features and performance vary between programs.
Videoconferencing support is included in programs including:
Yahoo Messenger (http://messenger.yahoo.com/), AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) (http://dashboard.aim.com/aim), Windows Live Messenger (http://get.live.com/messenger/overview), Skype (http://www.skype.com/welcomeback/) “Video calls can make conversations much more interesting and intimate. Video calls, like Skype-toSkype calls are free, so seeing your friends won’t cost a thing, no matter where they are in the world. All you need is a webcam.” iChat (http://www.apple.com/support/ichat/), Paltalk (now PaltalkScene) (http://www.palchat.com/) Ekiga (formerly known as GnomeMeeting) http://ekiga.org/ Stickam, (http://www.stickam.com/) Camfrog (http://www.camfrog.com/) Some online video broadcasting sites have taken advantage of this technology to create internet television programs centered around two (or more) people "diavlogging" with each other from two different places. Among others, BloggingHeads.tv uses this technology to set up conversations between prominent journalists, scientists, bloggers, and philosophers.
…From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adobe® Acrobat® Connect™
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnect/ Adobe® Acrobat® Connect™ is the next generation of web conferencing software that enables individuals and small businesses to instantly communicate and collaborate through easy-to-use, easy-to-access online personal meeting rooms.