Step 1: Get a Suitable Video Camera and Microphone
If your computer came with a video camera and microphone, you??™re all set. These
days, most laptops have a built-in microphone, and increasing numbers of laptops
have a basic video camera built in as well. Many desktop computer bundles include a
webcam and a microphone, so you may not have to buy anything.
Having a webcam built into a laptop is handy, because you won??™t forget to take the webcam with
you, and Windows should already have configured the camera, so that you don??™t need to configure
it manually. However, having the webcam fixed like this means you can??™t change its placement in
order to give your best profile to the person at the other end of the connection.
If you need to buy a camera, you??™ll find a wide variety of options available. Use the
following points as a brief shopping list:
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note
Project 4: Turn Your PC into a Video Phone 35
note
Resolution 640?—480 resolution is adequate for Internet telephony; unless you
have a fast connection, 320?—240 resolution may be enough. Some as web-cams
go up to 1600?—1200 resolution, but you will not normally be able to transmit
this much data at a reasonable frame rate.
USB connection USB is the best way to connect a webcam to a PC. You
can get other connection types (for example, FireWire), but your first choice
should be USB.
Stand or monitor clip Some webcams clip onto a laptop??™s lid or a flat-panel
monitor.
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