Digital Photography

Along with the advances in computer hardware manufacturing, webcams came into development. The use of webcams has made video chats and videoconferencing over the Internet possible.  Nowadays, webcams are a common fixture at Internet cafes and at connected private homes, enabling users to instantly converse with others anywhere on the globe and at the same time see them speaking on the monitor. Webcams are typically connected to the computer via a high-speed USB 2.0 port or are a built-in feature of laptop and notebook computers. Webcams also have improved much in terms of resolution, sharpness, image quality and overall functionality.

When the technology behind this product line was still young, pictures were of low-resolution, such as 300K pixels from the typical 640 x 480 pixel image size. Nowadays it is common to see 1- to 2-megapixel webcams with good built-in microphones. A further development borrowed from the latest digital still and video cameras is face following technology, which automatically adjusts to keep the user’s face in focus and within the frame. Other technologies now in use are automatic focusing and auto illumination when not enough lighting is detected.

The leading manufacturers of webcams are Logitech, Creative, A4Tech, Microtek, and a host of others. The major computer and cellphone manufacturers such as Apple, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Dell, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Alcatel, Samsung, LG and others have their own chosen subcontractors that make and supply webcams for their laptops. However, comparisons mostly only feature makers of standalone USB webcams.