Social Culture: Web Cams

Web cams have been transforming the Internet one graphic frame at a time. These cameras allow people to communicate in ways they have never been able to before. Professors are able to see students work and faces in digital classes, people can demonstrate their choreography to fans they don't even know (thank you YouTube) and friends are able to make stupid faces at one another from across continents or oceans. The Internet has proven useful in the spread of information and web cams have proven a useful tool for the Internet to spread graphic information without the annoyance of reading text on a screen.

Little History

The first web cam was created by Cambridge's computer science department for the most important purpose - monitoring the coffeepot. This way, computer geeks wouldn't have to leave their beloved screens in vain to get a cup of caffeine. Since then it has become unheard of to not have a web cam already built into your laptop. Web cams can get resolution rival to that of a digital still camera, though most consumers experience exactly what they need - a low resolution camera capable of transmitting live image monitor-to-monitor.

Most consumer monitors come equipped with lower web cams, though better ones can be purchased for various prices. The best have 1080 HD recording, which also allows these cameras to snag a wide screen shot for their user. According to ConsumerSearch, Logitech's HD Pro Webcam C910 ($100 est) takes the cake for 1080 HD cameras. These cameras are still live cameras, not built to store visuals within themselves. Some consumers may not want this HD quality, as it does show "...every skin blemish" of the user. You get what you pay for.

Social Chatting

Live image chatting has become a popular method of communicating. 'Skype' ($0), a major video transmitting chat software program has taken consumer culture by storm. 'Skype-ing' has become a normal verb in colloquial speech throughout the middle class. Another popular form of social video chatting is 'Facetime', created by Apple for their products (Iphone). With Facetime, one can hold their phone and talk to the person on the other end while watching live feed of the other individual. Smaller, more portable web cams, essentially.

Video chatting allows people who have never met before to get a better sense of who they are talking too. 'Chat-Roullete' takes advantage of people with web cams willing to talk to people they have never even seen before. This program hooks up people with web cams and instant messaging. The lack of vocals is quickly forgotten, as 'Chat-Roullete' is rarely boring. The web cam has started to amass a cult following thanks to people preforming on 'Chat-Roullete' and other video-chatting websites.


Chat-Roulette screenshot

'Practial' Chatting

Expressions on individuals faces are important to factor in when understanding the flow of a conversation. People are able to view spaces, such as apartments for rent, over video chatting, or merely saved video, saving gas and time. Landlords can judge their possible tenants by interacting 'face-to-monitor-to-face'. Businesses are starting to use video chatting as a means of getting major faces together without spending obscene amounts of money on transportation while wasting the owners of such faces' time. Expensive software, such as Polycom HDX ($4,800), is now being sold inmasse.


Polycom HDX

Biography/Links

Best Webcams: http://www.consumersearch.com/webcam-reviews/review
Skype: http://skype.com/
Chat-Roullete: http://chatroulette.com/
Polycom HDX: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/340339/Polycom-HDX-6000-720-Video-Conference/?Channel=Google&mr:trackingCode=76748B34-9325-E111-BAE2-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Googlepla-_-Technology+Phones_Accessories-_-340339&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=20548957676&mr:keyword={keyword}