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A webcam (or web camera) is a real time camera that can be accessed using the
World Wide Web. Usually a digital camera (cam) that delivers images to a web server,
either continuously or at regular intervals.
One of the most common types of webcams are personal cameras that are connected to
a home PC, which with the help of some software allow the user to share a moving
image with others. Depending on the user, and the software, this image may be publicly
available over the internet.
Another common type of webcam is a camera that is pointing at a particular scene,
monument, or other location of interest. Most of these cameras attempt to be
continuously available, but you can pretty much count on the pictures not being too
exciting most of the time if this is the case.
Today there are thousands, perhaps millions of webcams that provide views into homes,
offices and other buildings as well as providing panoramic views of cities and the
countryside. Images from satellites are frequently posted on the internet. Webcams
are also used to monitor traffic, the weather, or even volcanos. In fact, today you
can find webcam sites on the internet that have cameras pointed at virtually anything.
So get ready for a wild ride. This technology is just getting rolling.
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