Tell Me All You Can About Webcams

[Albromor]

This inquiry got its start when a friend of mine in Wyoming (I live in Southern New Jersey) wanted to see if we could do a Pencil & Paper AD&D game via email. I thought that such an undertaking would be plodding at best and then I thought, well perhaps a webcam linkup of some kind. Of course, I don't have the slightest idea what I am talking about, but I am intrigued if this is even feasible. Anybody use webcams to connect with friends and family through their computer? Is the technology good enough, i.e., clarity, frame rate, picture size? What type of specs does a computer need, i.e., RAM, CPU, etc., to make it run smoothly? Is it true that anything less than DSL is a waste of time? Any suggestions? I'm not looking to break the bank, but I also know you get what you pay for. Thanks ahead of time.

[Stormymystic]

yes, i do through yahoo, they have a cool webcam service
and it is easy to set up
if you choose to do this, remember to set the settings so only thoseinvited can see, because wen you broadcast others may be able to link to it

[Ziroc]

I was thinking of getting a webcam and setting it up and have it pointing at my PC and me working on it while I was drawing or doing the radio show, but decided not too... I doubt anyone would care to watch [img]smile.gif[/img]

Besides, then I couldn't do the radio show or draw in my underwear lol!!!

[Stormymystic]

Originally posted by Ziroc: I was thinking of getting a webcam and setting it up and have it pointing at my PC and me working on it while I was drawing or doing the radio show, but decided not too... I doubt anyone would care to watch [img]smile.gif[/img] Besides, then I couldn't do the radio show or draw in my underwear lol!!!

i wouldn't mind waatching, because i am so boredallday, i see no one but my kids all day and night,lol

[Reeka]

Bardan and I got web cams. We use them through Yahoo and that is simple enough. The thing is, the frames update rather slowly, I mean, at least with ours, it is nothing like watching a video or anything. BUT we can see each other. To play a game, I just don't know how that would work. Voice chat in Yahoo is very good (Bardan and I use that all the time). Would that work for what you want to do? I have never played pen and paper, but could you talk your way through it?

[Albromor]

Well, Reeka, you've raised a set of new questions for me. I'm not sure how good the sound quality would. Plus, would I have to go through a third party like Yahoo to connect to someone else? Or, can I connect directly with whomever the person I had in mind? Hmmm, I just don't know.

[Lioness]

Originally posted by Albromor: Well, Reeka, you've raised a set of new questions for me. I'm not sure how good the sound quality would. Plus, would I have to go through a third party like Yahoo to connect to someone else? Or, can I connect directly with whomever the person I had in mind? Hmmm, I just don't know.

MSN and AIM also have that feature. There's also a program that may or may not be preinstalled on your computer called NetMeeting, that's worth looking at.

[Kakero]

what about your internet connection speed? will it affect how the pictures go?

[Bungleau]

Oh, yeah, your connection speed affects the performance. Anything less than 56k on both ends will be extremely noticable... think back to the first telephones and "Are you there? We're here... can you hear us?"

Netmeeting is a simple thing to use provided you're not behind a firewall. If you are, then you need to get a little bit fancy with it... in fact, fancier than I've ever wanted to try I just left it well enough alone.