Webcams

Webcam is the shorten term for web camera. It is a camera that sends continuous images to a web site or system for display. Web cameras are mostly used between people to chat (whether for casual conversations or business meetings). This type of camera can be external (must be connected to a device) or embedded into devices (e.g., mobile phones, laptop etc.).

Webcam is used to keep in touch with loved ones, while seeing their faces and expressions. It is a more personal experience than a traditional telephone conversation and a perfect way to maintain long distance relationships.

It make distance learning easier and more accessible. Students can request to speak to their lecturers via a webcam if they struggle to grasp something in the lesson plan, hold an online training session or study group with multiple students using webcams. Many online tutorials are recorded with webcams.

Advantages:

• Able to interact with people across long distances

• Becoming more and more easy to use

• Both sound and video is used, making the communication more sophisticated

• Users can use the webcam to save videos they film to watch later or send to others

• Many webcams can also be used as a still camera

Disadvantages

• Feed when video chatting can be choppy/pixelated

• Discourages people to interact face-to-face

• Hackers can enable webcams even when the owner is not aware

• Can be used to film inappropriate/illegal videos

• Privacy in computer users is decreasing-- most people can be found somewhere on the web