Brian Lee

Webcams are a fun and easy way to communicate over the internet that goes beyond the ordinary text-based messages. Webcam setups can be simple or somewhat more complicated, but the basic concept is nothing more than a digital camera attached to your computer, with software controlling the "webcam" functions. Webcams can be used for video email messages, live chat, the images can be published to the web, or they can even be used for remote security monitoring.

As digital camera cell phones become increasingly popular, they are being used to record all types of criminal activity while it's in progress. This video evidence can then be used in a court of law to bring about a conviction. As the technology continues to advance, and the digital camera cell phone becomes even more popular, we could see a reduction of crime as criminals consider the very real possibility that their activities could be caught on video.

Understanding how a digital camera controls the amount of light that reaches its sensor and how that light is focused takes some of the mystery out of the workings of a digital camera. While many of the processes that conventional cameras use are basically the same for digital cameras, storage and manipulation of images has been simplified, and other functions automated for ease of use in the digital models.

Digital cameras have not completely replaced conventional film cameras, but they have simplified the process of taking high-quality pictures. Understanding how digital cameras convert light into a digital signal helps to de-mystify the complexity and appreciate the engineering that have gone into these electronic marvels.