How to catch webcam image from browser

[Hugene]

Hello all

I am wondering if it is possible to write an application that would run from a browser (therefore not needing a download) and that would capture a live video feed from a computer's webcam and broadcast that to a web server?

I was thinking that a Java Applet would be the only technology strong enough to do this within a browser. I discovered some APIs called JMF, but their description is from 1999 and it seems no one is really using this.

Can someone help?

Basically, I would like to do like Skype, have a video chat, but without needing a downloaded application on the client's computer.

Thanks a lot.

[bill]

Without a download you couldn't even use Flash or Java. Those are add-ons that require downloads. That would severely limit your options.

You could approximate video with a fast meta refresh and really small JPEG images. It wouldn't be anywhere near the quality level of Skype.

[skipfactor]

>>I was thinking that a Java Applet would be the only technology strong enough to do this within a browser.

Build it and they will go away. Think Flash.

[Tastatura]

As it was said before you /user will need to download something. It will also depend what kind of interface webcam has. Just a few examples: if it is networked cam you can plug it straight into the router and cam will have it's on IP address. Then to obtain an image you simply call cam's IP address. Note that webcam's driver software will need to be installed somewhere, either on your comp/server... ....or you can have router running *nix and install it there (maybe a bit more involved but doable). If webcam has usb interface you can install driver (which supports DirectShow) on your comp. It's fairly trivial then to write simple javascript to display image in the browser or do what you want with it. These are just few examples and by no means only options....