President GMA’s SONA

Webcams being hosted in schools

It’s possible that having seen the teaching and learning the benefits of webcams, teachers and students may wish to make their own use of webcams or web camera, perhaps to promote experiments to support classroom works. Schools considering hosting their own webcam should think very carefully about the issues that will soon arise regarding its usage.

First, schools must define precisely why they wish to use a webcam or web camera, what images they want to captured, and where the images will be presented. The answers to these questions should be considered because these would have a great impact upon the safety and management implications of hosting a webcam in school.

If schools were to use a webcam or web camera to view non-human subjects or shall we say objects, for example to view close-up images of a bird nesting in a tree in the school grounds, this shouldn’t present too many problems. The images should be displayed on the school website for general interest and purpose, and there would be no safety issues. On the contrary, if a web camera were used in such a way that it might capture images containing human subjects, whether students, staff or visitors, the school must exercise extreme caution for fairness purposes.

There are many issues regarding privacy, and schools should have the duty to inform people that a web camera is in operation. Many schools operate an opt-in system of parental consent to include images and digital video of students on school websites and the same principles should be applied to webcam activities and policies. Schools should consider also how they can ensure that students whose parents have withheld consent are not inadvertently captured on the camera.
Displaying web camera images of students on a publicly available school website could present a real risk to safety. It allows identification of individual students, but there should be a real risk of attracting unwelcome interest, from pedophiles for example. In addition, as the images are effectively real time, the schools have no control over what are being broadcast via its website. It may be more appropriate to use a school intranet, or a machine which can only be accessed locally, for broadcasting web camera images if they are likely to add images of students.

What are the possible risks associated with the use of webcams?

As with the internet today, some webcam sites may contain, or have links to, inappropriate or adult material. Although this should be address clearly before entering the site, teachers were strongly advised to view any webcam sites or listings before allowing pupils to do so.

One of the greatest risks associated with streaming webcams is one-to-one chat, which serves as an extension to chat rooms. While it’s extremely unlikely that students will use webcams for chatting where setting was organized videoconferencing activities for educational purposes, it is possible that they may use them outside of school and so should be alerted to the possible dangers ahead.

We have to keep in mind also that as webcams provide a real time view, there is no way you can control what students are viewing upon surfing the net. While in some cases where it’s likely to be fairly safe – for example, a webcam view of weather activity - in others, such as views of a busy shopping area, this may present more of a risk, particularly where people might be seen.

The risks of chat rooms are greatly reported – you can never be sure who you are really chatting with, and chat can sometimes become inappropriate too. Pedophiles are also known to use the anonymity offered by chat to ‘groom’ young adults, with the intention of developing friendships in the online world with the eventual aim of persuading them into sexual activities. It is also possible that webcams could be used as a stage in this grooming process, with young adults being encouraged to ‘meet’ using a webcam, and then coerced into inappropriate or abusive activities.

It is advisable for children and young adults to only chat over a webcam with people that they only know and trust in the real world, under adult supervision as much as possible.

A webcam is a camera being connected to the internet. A live picture, or snapshot, is uploaded to a website from the camera at regular intervals, usually every few minutes. By looking at the web page from which the camera operates, you can see what the camera sees almost as it happens in the actual. Thats the great contribution of web technology.

There are thousands of webcams across the world. Through th use of web technology showing images of practically every topic imaginable - cities, weather, volcanoes, space and animals are just a few examples.

The act of streaming webcams provide a continuous stream of live video, and are typically used of web technology, for one-to-one chat, video conferencing or broadcasting across the internet. High bandwidth is required in order to send streaming video at a reasonable rate and quality.

The best example of web technology, is when you are sitting at your computer chatting away. You come across with this new people online and their profile looks impressive. With the help of web technology, you consume hours on end long hours chatting with them and everything that they shares with you appears to draw you in more and more but you have to bid goodbye because it is rather late looking forward for another fulfilling chat day with them.

Nowadays, webcam video chat and free video chat rooms are available anytime you want. Many people can afford an Internet connection and the necessary tools – the phenomenon experiences a growing popularity and visible improvements to what concerns quality parameters in the world. Moreover, it is not just about entertainment or online get-togethers with friends, family etc. But this form of chatting has also become one of the easiest and safest ways of doing business meetings and handling a wide array of issues in general, with the help of the Internet. Then we will learn about the benefits generated by webcam video chat and about the manner in which you can enjoy them, too.


The most common manner in which we use webcam video chatting is mainly recreational and for entertainment, such as online get-togethers with friends in distant places. It has always been fun hanging around, chatting with your friends online which previous generations do not have. Video chatting ads a little more flavor, as you are able to see whom you are talking to, making it twice the fun and excitement. This is great, particularly when you want to get in touch with someone close to you who lives abroad or at least a significant distance away from you, for it saves a lot of money and trouble.


Webcam video chat is not something unusual and exquisite as some people used to look at it before. It has actually become one of the most popular ways for people to get in touch and, as we have seen, its applications and benefits are countless because it cuts costs, saves money and energy and also provides users with a handy, quick and easy method of communication.

Nowadays, the use of the postal service and letters is seldom a favorite channel unlike before, so many people turn to telephony, which is indeed accessible, but could turn expensive if overdone. Free video chat rooms offer a great alternative as you are able to stay logged on for as long as you like and there is no extra payment involved (apart from the usual Internet monthly fee, which you have to pay anyway). The only investment you will have to do concern directly the acquisition of a webcam, which can be purchase anytime because, is not so expensive any longer. Once you purchase a webcam, you can use it for a long time, as usual cameras’ mechanisms are simple and do not break down that easily.

From anywhere in the world using Earth Cam’s network construction cameras, companies can remotely view their job sites over the Internet. Earth Cam's provides specific construction webcam solutions for some of the largest construction companies and developers in the world today. Combined with Earth Cam’s Control Center Software, create the ultimate interactive live construction cam solution to monitor activities, control and archive your job sites.

Applications for Webcams are many and varied in our generation, ranging from personal office Webcams that provides the subject hard at work on your computer terminal, to scenic Webcams showing city skylines, to temporary, event driven Webcams capturing the excitement of a live concert or parade for a few hours. Webcam store provides solutions for these applications and many more which can help you determine the best system for your needs.

Choosing a Webcam Solution: Mega Pixel Earth Cam's
With the evolution of Mega pixel cameras, it was inevitable that network cameras would eventually merge with this technology. Mega pixel network Cameras are now available in the market to provide a slightly new approach to IP based camera systems. Mega pixel images provide very high-resolution images of excellent results, but the images are large in file size and therefore it is not the best choice for full motion video or anything approaching it. Earth Cam's is however, a good choice for archiving a construction project or showing scenic views. Earth Cam's all depends on you on what your goal or that is trying to be achieved.

Camcorders and Security Cameras

This type of camera has higher quality of images and more cameras control that come from using camcorders and security cameras. In order to use this device you need to add a video capture card to your PC. Once you have installed, that’s the time you can use a wide range of cameras from broadcast cameras to miniature spy cameras. You can also include variable lens options, filter for daylight and low light situations as well as the robotic controls for spanning and focus adjustments.

Integrated Cameras

An integrated camera combines the camera and the optical hardware with a video server which does not requires any additional software. This type of camera can be used in network situations or as stand-alone devices which monitors progress on a construction project for example.
Mega pixel Cameras

This is another type of camera which combines network capability with high quality digital camera technology. These cameras offer excellent quality but create large files sizes, and so they have limited applications in constant streaming video. They are only ideal for image collection and provide a constant record high quality.


If in case you are not interested in dealing integrated camera solution, what you will need is to install an encoding program like Webcaster or Media Caster in order to transfer your images to a web page. On the other hand or the receiver end, when web surfers browse the internet and wish to view live video on the web for the first time, they need to download dedicated applications that show the content such as an ActiveX control, Windows Media Player, Flash player or the like.

Internet Connections

Finally, before you can use your webcam you must have an Internet connection. The hardware you will be needed may include a modem for dial-up connection, or modem/router in the case for broadband solution. Of course the higher the quality you want, or faster refresh rate you want the more bandwidth you also needed.

Webcam applications work well in wireless solutions. You only need to make sure that you have purchased a camera or network video solution that suits to your wireless system.

If your webcams or digital cameras LCD is cracked or broken, or its lens is jammed and showing an error on the LCD screen. Do not repair it yourself if your not comfortable of doing so, better go to some special webcam dealer and ask for assistance.

There are a number of physical components being required to make webcam technology work. The major component of all is the camera itself. Then, the later part will depends on the type of camera you use and the way in which you want to deliver the content to the Internet. You also need to incorporate video capture hardware in your computer. There are lots of software being required to help you process the data, and Internet connection is required and of course the web page into which the data is fed.

There are different types of web camera not only functions as a digital camera, it can also be used as a webcam to transmit images or hold conferences. Also there are cameras that have the ability to take short video or clips, after that you can download the images directly to your computer provided the software supplied wherein you can edit, manipulate, erase or even email your photos to family and friends.

We have different taste in terms of choosing or when u buy web cameras, therefore the choice of web camera depends on what you are intending to show. If in case you need to reach a large number of public audiences you may want good quality camcorder or mega pixel camera that would somehow give a high quality of images. If it’s just for seeing who’s at your front door or to keep an eye on the kids in their playroom, then it is advisable to purchase a high quality images. If your intention is to use it outdoors then you need to be weather proof and you also need to consider sun and UV protection? The availability of the power supply and any robotic requirements for camera movement and focus are your extra considerations.

These are the webcams that connects to your PC using a simple USB connection. Before you buy web cameras you must take to consider many things. Some of it is what are the usage or is it necessary for you to buy web cameras? You should prioritize things. What are its benefits when you are to buy web cameras. Is it only for fun or a display in the house. You should make value of your money as to buying a web camera a must or not. There are wide ranges of camera with accompanying software at a range of prices available for this type of application. Dedicated webcams are simple to install and easy to use, but there are also some limitations which greatly affects the quality of the images, such as low number of frames per second.

Webcams are our lifetime partners which provides real time images to people; places and activities that can be viewed ‘live’ on a webpage. The broadcasting end of the camera which captures the images, were connected to the computer via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) so that it can be viewed pages across the Internet. Actually there are two
type on how to broadcast webcam: streaming images, where the picture or images taken are at constant stream downloaded in video format; or via Java, where the images captured are at permanent time intervals and can be refreshed on the web pages by the broadcaster.

But before you shop and buy cameras that best suit your personality. First you have to understand about how the technology of broadcasting images over the Internet works. You also have to fully understand the basics and identify the product, its specifications and of course its prices.

Intended Application of Webcam

Before you make a choice about any types of webcam equipment, it is helpful before deciding to exactly know how and what you want to use the technology, what you are intending to broadcast. This is the most important decision you have to do and how you use it. It is because there is a wide range of webcam uses nowadays. The best example includes ‘Big Brother’ style diaries, wherein it shares family events. Also webcams are the best equipment used for workplace security, video conferencing, virtual tourism, road traffic management, weather watching, event broadcast and a host of others.

Another thing you have to consider is who will be viewing your content? You have to properly consider these for you to determine the type of camera you are using, not to mention its software and Internet connection. For this, it will help your Internet connection be limited on its action. It is because there are different levels of requirements like video conferencing wherein it differs from workplace security webcams for security.