Quickcam
Encyclopedia
QuickCam is a line of webcam
video camera products by Logitech
.
The original QuickCam was developed by Connectix
in 1994 for nationwide commercial sale and was the first widely marketed webcam-like device, although its original advertising did not use the term "webcam" or refer to the World Wide Web
, then in its infancy. Originally, a graduate degree research project in the early 1990s between various California School and East Coast School, the QuickCam was originally an RS-232 color CCD camera with the capability of switching mode between 256 color to 16 gray scale which improved the frame rates from 15 to 60 frame/s. Both the Apple and Windows version software were sponsored by DARPA and Department of Veterans Affair in a head-to-head contest. The Windows version was complied under both MS Visual Studios (Microsoft Academic Alliance) and Borland C/C+ compilers for both Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. Video conferencing via computers already existed at the time, and client-server based video conferencing software such as CU-SeeMe
was gaining popularity. Eventually, it evolved from an RS-232 connector to a parallel connector then eventually to a USB connection. It is now considered one of the top gadgets of all time.
The initial model was available only for the Apple Macintosh, connecting to it via the serial port. It produced 16 shades of gray
at a resolution
of 320×240 pixel
s, and could record video at about 15 frames
per second; it cost $100.
The software that originally shipped with the camera included QuickMovie for recording motion pictures and QuickPICT for capturing still images.
The QuickCam product line was acquired by Logitech in 1998. The company has gradually decreased support for the Macintosh platform, with only one current model officially supporting Mac or including Mac drivers. This could largely be the result of Apple building webcams into their laptop and desktop computers, negating the need for external third party devices. Many recent models implement the USB video device class
standard and work under Mac OS without additional drivers.
Today, Logitech QuickCam is one of the world's most recognized webcam brands.
StevesAntFarm.com is the longest continuously running webcam using a QuickCam. Started in January 1995 and continues to this day.
In October, QuickCam was elected to Time Magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of all Time
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
video camera products by Logitech
Logitech
Logitech International S.A. is a global provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, microphones, game controllers...
.
The original QuickCam was developed by Connectix
Connectix
Connectix Corporation was a software and hardware company, noted for having released innovative products that were either made obsolete as Apple Computer incorporated the ideas into system software, or were sold to other companies once they become popular...
in 1994 for nationwide commercial sale and was the first widely marketed webcam-like device, although its original advertising did not use the term "webcam" or refer to the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
, then in its infancy. Originally, a graduate degree research project in the early 1990s between various California School and East Coast School, the QuickCam was originally an RS-232 color CCD camera with the capability of switching mode between 256 color to 16 gray scale which improved the frame rates from 15 to 60 frame/s. Both the Apple and Windows version software were sponsored by DARPA and Department of Veterans Affair in a head-to-head contest. The Windows version was complied under both MS Visual Studios (Microsoft Academic Alliance) and Borland C/C+ compilers for both Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. Video conferencing via computers already existed at the time, and client-server based video conferencing software such as CU-SeeMe
CU-SeeMe
CU-SeeMe is an Internet videoconferencing client. CU-SeeMe can make point to point video calls without a server or make multi-point calls through server software first called a "reflector" and later called a "conference server" or Multipoint Control Unit...
was gaining popularity. Eventually, it evolved from an RS-232 connector to a parallel connector then eventually to a USB connection. It is now considered one of the top gadgets of all time.
The initial model was available only for the Apple Macintosh, connecting to it via the serial port. It produced 16 shades of gray
Grayscale
In photography and computing, a grayscale or greyscale digital image is an image in which the value of each pixel is a single sample, that is, it carries only intensity information...
at a resolution
Display resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
of 320×240 pixel
Pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....
s, and could record video at about 15 frames
Frame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
per second; it cost $100.
The software that originally shipped with the camera included QuickMovie for recording motion pictures and QuickPICT for capturing still images.
The QuickCam product line was acquired by Logitech in 1998. The company has gradually decreased support for the Macintosh platform, with only one current model officially supporting Mac or including Mac drivers. This could largely be the result of Apple building webcams into their laptop and desktop computers, negating the need for external third party devices. Many recent models implement the USB video device class
USB video device class
The USB video device class is a USB device class that describes devices capable of streaming video like webcams, digital camcorders, transcoders, analog video converters, television tuners, and still-image cameras....
standard and work under Mac OS without additional drivers.
Today, Logitech QuickCam is one of the world's most recognized webcam brands.
StevesAntFarm.com is the longest continuously running webcam using a QuickCam. Started in January 1995 and continues to this day.
In October, QuickCam was elected to Time Magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of all Time
Cameras
This list is non-exhaustive.| Camera | Image | Year | Category | Sensor resolution | RRP (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectix QuickCam | 1994 | General | 320x240 4bpp Greyscale | $100 | Sold over 500,000 units from 1994 to 1997. | |
| Connectix Color QuickCam | 1996 | General | 320x240 24bpp | $199 | ||
| Connectix Color QuickCam 2 | 1997 | General | 320x240 24bpp | $199 | Improved sensor and optical system, optimised for indoor use | |
| Connectix QuickCam VC | 1998 | General | 320x240 | $99 – $129 | VC for "Video Conferencing". First USB QuickCam; also supports parallel ports. | |
| Connectix QuickCam Home | 1998 | General | 320x240 | $130 | Only USB. | |
| Connectix QuickCam Pro | 1998 | High-End | 640x480 | $150 | USB and Parallel. | |
| Logitech QuickCam Express | 1999 | General | 320x240 @ 30 frame/s | $49 | . | |
| Logitech QuickCam Web | 1999 | High-End | 640x480 @ 30 frame/s | Only USB. With built-in microphone. | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000 | 2000 | High-End | 640x480 | |||
| Logitech QuickCam 3000 | 2001 | Business | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Traveler | 2001 | Notebook | 640x480 @ 30 frame/s | $99–$149 | First "laptop" QuickCam. | |
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 | 2002 | High-End | 640x480 @ 15 frame/s | Can take interpolated 1280x960 stills. | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Zoom | 2002 | General | 640x480 | $99 | Features a digital zoom Digital zoom Digital zoom is a method of decreasing the apparent angle of view of a digital photographic or video image. Digital zoom is accomplished by cropping an image down to a centered area with the same aspect ratio as the original, and usually also interpolating the result back up to the pixel... that focuses on the user's face. Re-released as "QuickCam Zoom Silver" in 2003. |
|
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks | 2002 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro | 2002 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere | 2003 | Flagship | 640x480 | First motorised pan/tilt QuickCam. Known as "QuickCam Orbit" in North America | ||
| Logitech QuickCam Messenger | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Express 2 | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate | 2004 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Cordless | 2004 | Speciality | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe | 2005 | Notebook | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Chat | 2005 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Fusion | 2005 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 | 2005 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere MP | 2005 | Flagship | Motorized pan/tilt. Known as the "QuickCam Orbit MP" in North America | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision | 2005 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Connect | 2006 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX | 2006 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 | 2007 | High-End | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam IM | 2007 | General | ||||
| Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF | 2007 | Flagship | Known as "QuickCam Orbit AF" in North America. | |||
| Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro | 2008 | Macintosh |