Perhaps you already have a camera on
your computer, setup as a webcam, for video conferencing, or monitoring the
baby’s room. With multiple camera’s on your computer you can do all of these
things at the same time and not have to shut down the application currently
using the only camera. Say you’re in a videoconference and you want to change
the video from you to the camera on the baby. Or perhaps you want to setup a
security/monitoring system where you can access any camera on the network. A
popular use of this is in a day care facility that displays video from
throughout the center privately to parents for viewing over the Internet
throughout the day. The possibilities are endless!
Q. Will these MultiCAM drivers work with other brands
of cameras?
A. Installing these drivers will allow the ViCAM to work in conjunction with
other brands of cameras installed on a computer, but it has nothing to do with
them. Just as though you can have multiple brands of printers connected to your
computer, you can also have multiple brands of cameras connected to you
computer. These drivers create separate drivers (both Twain and
Video-For-Windows), for each USB ViCAM and 3Com HomeConnect cameras ONLY,
connected to the computer, and allow them to be run at the same time without
conflicts.
Q. Can I use the MultiCAM drivers on a Macintosh?
A. Currently, the MultiCAM Utilities only operate on a Windows operating
system with USB support.
Q. How do I install this on my computer?
A. Simply download the latest MultiCAM Utilities and run the executable
file, which will install it on your computer. After doing so, shut down your
computer, connect the cameras and start your computer. Upon starting up, your
computer will automatically recognize all of the cameras connected to it. Run
the MultiCAM Wizard, which will create a complete set of drivers for each
camera, and reboot. If you have a current ViCAM or HomeConnect single-camera
installation on your computer, you will be notified to remove it first in order
to install the MutliCAM Utilities.
Q. What hardware do I need?
A. You will need as many cameras as you plan to run, either USB ViCAM or
3Com HomeConnect PC Digital cameras, up to a total of ten. You will also need an
available USB port for each camera you will be connecting.
Q. What is USB?
A. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a new type of connection device fitted
to most PCs available today. It offers true plug and play set-up and hot
swapping capability so devices can be added, removed or swapped while your PC is
up and running. It reduces the need to install cards into dedicated computer
slots and reconfigure the system. USB also allows multiple devices -- up to 127
-- to run simultaneously on a computer, with monitors, keyboards or other such
peripherals being used as additional connection points.
Q. What do I do if the USB ports on my PC are already
connected to other USB devices?
A. You can use a device called a Powered USB Hub, which provides you with
more USB ports than are available on your PC. It is a device for connecting
multiple USB devices such as scanners, joysticks and mice.
Q. How long of a cable can I use with the camera?
A. Under the USB specifications the maximum cable length is five meters.
Extending beyond this requires the addition of a powered USB hub, another five
meter cable, another hub, etc. up to four times. There are also some new options
that we have not tested and in-turn cannot guarantee but may be worth
researching. These include USB Active Extension Cables, which have the hub built
into the cable, or, USB to Ethernet converters. The later was actually
demonstrated at Comdex 99 using a USB to Ethernet converter connected to the USB
port of the computer, with 300 feet of Ethernet cable connected to an Ethernet
to USB converter, connected to a HomeConnect camera. We understand that this
worked flawlessly until the person demonstrating it walked too far into the
audience and pulled the cable apart. Again, while we hope to do some testing
with this configuration, we have not and cannot guarantee the results. Further
information on this can be found at www.icron.com
Q. What software do I need?
A. Installing the MutliCAM Utilities and running the Wizard will install
drivers and some simple applications for still or motion image capture. To
utilize the real power of these you will need some additional software, which is
not included. The drivers that are created, both Twain and Video for Windows,
are the standard interfaces of the Windows operating system. Virtually all
off-the-shelf applications that use cameras use one or both of these two
interfaces. These drivers work with everything we have tested with and we are
not aware of any incompatibilities with any programs. They should work with
existing programs you may already have. Below is a list of some software to
consider separated by category.
Video Conferencing
Net Meeting
Company: Microsoft
Website: www.netmeeting.com/netmeeting
Tested: Yes
Comments: This is part of the current Windows operating system. Current download
available at website.
iSpQ Intercomm
Company: nanoCom Corp.
Website: www.nanocom.com
Tested: Yes
Comments: The
iSpQ Intercomm is an Internet communications suite that offers you multipoint
videoconferencing, multimedia instant message and a digital intercom system.
All of these communication options can be used for many business and
personal applications.
ICUII
Company: Cybration, Inc.
Website: www.icuii.com
Tested: Yes
Comments: ICUII includes a Quick Message function that sends audio, text and a
video image to any user on the directory or on your Pal list. This provides a
quick and easy way to communicate with all of your friends or family online.
