Fear of the Unknown? Fear of Technology? No idea of what to do with a webcam? These may be several of the thoughts running through your mind as your glance at the title. Webcams are video capturing devices connected to cameras and to the Internet. The first such camera was the CoffeeCam, initially connected in 1991, which pointed at the Trojan room coffee pot in the Computer Science Department of Cambridge University. The camera was switched off after a decade of service on August 22, 2001.

Today there are millions of webcams deployed throughout the web. They range from the silly to the serious. Anyone who has been to YouTube or any other video centric site knows the range of topics and uses for Webcams. The three most popular uses for webcams today include

1. web based video conferencing,
2. video streaming for information, entertainment or security purposes and
3. the creation of amateur videos.

Web based video conferencing enables real-time visual and audio communications with family, friends and business associates from anywhere in the world for either free or incredibly inexpensive prices. Skype is one such service. Skype enables you to make video calls to anyone in the world for free if the person you are calling is using Skype on their computer as well. Using Internet based video calls has changed the dynamics of business conferencing as well as staying connected with family and friends around the world.
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