How to make a webcam from a digital camera. How to connect a webcam to a computer without calling either a service technician or friends? Connecting a webcam without software

I remember in one of the articles on App Inventor I wrote that there was an attempt to Russify it, but I didn’t really like it. I don’t even remember why. Meanwhile, Russification from App Inventor2 has disappeared.
But the world does not stand still and here again we have App Inventor in Russian. This happened thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts from "Learning with Google" community. Next I’ll try to figure out what happened, but now, first of all, applause for the enthusiasts! Well, simply because it turned out quite well, in my opinion, and the work was necessary in every way.

But, from enthusiasm to action.
You can switch to Russian in the language selection drop-down menu at the top right.

Now what I liked:
Competent and pleasant translation into Russian of various menus on the “Designer” and “Blocks” desktops

This will immediately allow a person far from programming and the English language not to get lost. I myself am far from the first, and only a little closer to the second, so I like it, damn it! Although I’m already used to the English interface.
We click the question next to it in the “Palette” menu and what do we see?

Bah! Yes, this is a small hint, also translated into ours, the great and mighty. Great too! If I figured out a thing like a button without resorting to a dictionary, then, for example, to figure out sprites, I had to scratch my head. And here everything is on a silver platter.
Let's go further and look at the blocks. And here there is complete splendor and Russification.

I admit honestly that I seem to have figured out the AI ​​(well, okay, only part of it), but some blocks make me strain because, again, my English, alas, is lame. So App Inventor in Russian is here to help.
There is also an error index in App Inventor. And his guys didn’t ignore him.

In general, I repeat, I liked the Russification.
There are, of course, small mistakes: for example, some words are missing in the “Properties” of the components.

But, by God, this is such a small thing!
Yes, here, the tooltips for the blocks are still in English. But their correct understanding is often lacking.

Now about whether I personally will switch to the Russified version. Most likely not, and here's why: the vast majority of programming languages ​​use English. Hence the conclusion - anyone who wants to advance further in learning programming must work with the original language. And I want.

And the next argument: in the process of dealing with AI, I raised my level of English. And this is also very useful.
But! I will still turn to the Russian-language App Inventor, since not everything is always clear. And what’s more, you don’t always have the time and desire to learn a foreign language if you need to write yourself, say, an alarm clock application with your own features. And here App Inventor in Russian will help. What if you want to teach how to create mobile applications for kids who have just started learning English? Yes, with English-speaking AI you will only confuse their heads. After all, remember that this thing was created for training.
So, the work done deserves all the attention and respect. And, without a doubt, use.
It would also be nice for the guys to create a complete Russian textbook... Stop! Stop! What will I do then?

In this post I’m going to introduce you to the MIT App Inventor 2 software and I’m going to show you what you need to quickly getting started building Android apps that interact and control your Arduino.

Here’s the contents that are going to be covered in this post:

• Why MIT App Inventor 2 is a good choice?
• Accessing MIT App Inventor 2
• How to control Arduino with MIT App Inventor (Bluetooth)
• MIT App Inventor Overview
• Projects with MIT App Inventor
• Android Apps for Arduino with MIT App Inventor 2

Introducing MIT App Inventor 2

MIT App Inventor 2 is a simple and intuitive free service for creating Android applications. If you want to start with MIT App Inventor, you don't need to download or install any program in your computer as the software is cloud-based, so you build the apps directly in your browser (Chrome, Mozilla, Safari, Internet Explorer , etc).

For instance, you only need an internet connection for building the apps.

Why MIT App Inventor is a good choice?

• MIT App Inventor 2 is intuitive and simple to use.
• You don’t have to be an expert in programming or design to build awesome apps that can do useful stuff.
• Creating the design is as easy as selecting and placing widgets in the smartphone screen.
• The code is done with drag and drop puzzle blocks.

Anyone can learn how to build their own apps with MIT App Inventor 2 with a few hours of practice.

Accessing MIT App Inventor 2

The most common Bluetooth modules used with the Arduino are the HC‑05 bluetooth, HC-04 and HC-06.

For more information about the bluetooth module, you can check this blog post:

The Bluetooth module works with serial data. This means that the Arduino sends information and the Bluetooth module receives it via serial (and vice-versa).

The following figure explains how the information flows from the Android app to the Arduino.

Your smartphone sends information to the Bluetooth module via Bluetooth. Then, the Bluetooth module sends the information via serial communication to the Arduino. This flow also works the other way around: the Arduino sends information to the Bluetooth module that sends it to the smartphone via Bluetooth.

MIT App Inventor Overview

This is a step-by-step course to get you building cool Android applications for Arduino, even with no prior experience! A collection of 8 + 1 Projects.

I hope you've found this post useful.

Greetings to blog readers!
Today I would like to consider one interesting question that subscribers and readers of the blog have already asked about several times. So, can the camera be used as a webcam?

How to use a camera as a webcam?

The question is relevant for those who do not have a webcam on their computer, but want, for example, to chat with friends on Skype. The answer is ambiguous - maybe, but there are a number of conditions for this. Firstly, many modern models are already equipped with a similar operating mode. In order to activate it, you just need to install the drivers, connect the camera with a USB cable to the computer and activate the camera mode.

But in most cases, everything is much more complicated. First of all, you need to check whether your camera has the ability to stream video. To do this, take from the kit that came with your model a cable with tulips for connecting to a TV - on one end it usually has 3 tulips, and on the other is the connector that is intended for audio-video output on the camera - this can be USB, miniJack or some other one.

As a rule, the yellow tulip is responsible for the video - we connect it to the video input on the TV and select AV input as the image source in the TV menu - the camera, of course, must be turned on. If there is no picture, then you will not be able to use this camera as a web camera, since it cannot transmit streaming video.

If a picture from the camera appears on the screen, then you can proceed to the next step and connect it to the computer.

But first you need to make sure that it has a video capture device with a tulip video input that will transfer video to the program. This could be a video card or TV tuner. If there is no tuner, and the video card is not equipped with the necessary video input, then you can purchase a separate video capture device - there are a bunch of all kinds of inexpensive models in Chinese online stores.

We connect this device to the USB of the computer, and insert the tulip connector from the cable that came with the camera, which is inserted into the turned on camera.

For Canon cameras there is a separate similar special proprietary utility called PSRemote.

As you can see from the screenshot, you can also select a video file, picture, or broadcast your desktop for playback on the Internet. In addition, the program allows you to apply various cool effects to your video.

After that, in Skype or another video communication application, for example ooVoo, select our application as the outgoing video (“Tools > Settings > Video settings > Select webcam > SplitCam Capture”)

The MoneyCam program works similarly, in which there are even more various effects for overlaying online videos and detailed settings for displaying video images. To launch an image from the camera, go to the “Sources” tab and select our camera.

In Skype, as in the case of SplitCamer, go to the source selection section and activate the ManyCam application as its source.

Or, for example, you can use the program on Facebook:

That's all for today - I hope the question of how to use a camera as a webcam has become not so insoluble for you - go for it!

With the expansion of access to high-speed Internet networks, instant messengers with video and audio communication capabilities have become very popular. Free programs like Skype, Imo, Viber, Jitsi, Google Hangouts, etc. allow you to connect relatives, acquaintances, and friends located on opposite sides of the globe almost instantly and with sufficient quality.

The Internet is also littered with applications for video recording, motion detection, video surveillance systems, and image streaming. All these programs have one element in common - a video camera. The most convenient and cheapest type of cameras is WEB cameras.

If you do not quite understand how to connect a webcam to a computer, then this information will be useful for you.

Connecting the camera

The device connects to the port USB via a wired or wireless interface. For it to work, just insert the cable or receiver connector into the corresponding socket on the computer case.

Please note that cameras can connect to a computer using USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 protocols. This means that a USB 2.0 gadget will work with any protocol, and USB 3.0 only with the appropriate one.

If the motherboard does not support USB 3.0, then connecting a camera with the 3.0 protocol will not be possible.

If everything fits together for you, you need to install the appropriate driver.

Driver installation

Usually the system independently determines the device type and establishes a support program. As evidenced by the notification in the lower right corner. Sometimes the software is missing, then you should use the disk that came with the camera. As a rule, no difficulties arise at this stage. Follow the prompts and the driver will be installed safely.

If there is no disk, then you will have to look for the driver yourself. To do this you need to go to device Manager. Windows 10 allows you to do this in a simplified way. Just right-click on the Microsoft icon in the lower left corner of the screen and select the appropriate menu item.

Open Device Manager, and in the window that opens, select Imaging devices - USB camera. At this point, right-click on the inscription Update. And choose automatic update. The system will automatically detect the driver, install it, and connect the device.

It happens that the driver is not automatically detected, how to connect the webcam to the computer in this case? You need to look for a program on manufacturer's website or on the resource driver.ru by model.

Settings

Once the driver is installed, you can configure the gadget. To do this, it can be installed focusing ring, which should be adjusted. The device also has a mount with which you can set its position relative to the object being photographed. If installed on your computer Skype, then the image is adjusted in this program. Open the settings window: Tools - Settings. Video settings.

Now you can set the position of the device, adjust the focus and adjust the video signal parameters.

If Skype is not installed and you do not want to install it, then use any of the applications that support web cameras, for example, Webcam Surveyor, AbelCam, Active WebCam, etc.

Video on the topic

It's no secret that Skype has become incredibly popular in recent years. Now this is one of the few programs that allows you to organize communication with relatives or loved ones over a long distance completely free of charge. Not only can we communicate just like on the phone, we also have the opportunity to see each other. But here many are faced with the fact that they do not know how to connect a webcam to a computer. This is what we will talk about now.

General provisions

First, you need to understand that there are several types of webcams. Some do not require additional software, while others install normally only if drivers are available. What kind of camera do you have? We'll deal with this a little later. As a rule, a disk may be included with the webcam; if there is none, then it is most likely not needed. Additionally, the connection process differs depending on the hardware and operating system used. So, it can be a laptop or computer running Windows HP or Linux OS. But since connecting a webcam to a computer is not too difficult, even a novice user can cope with this procedure without experiencing any problems. However, before you start, read the useful information that will be useful to you in practice.

What do we need to get started?

We have already said a little about the fact that webcams are different, but the installation principle is not very different. That's why in order to do everything right, we need several integral components. One of them is high-speed Internet. As practice shows, without access to the network there is no particular benefit from the web. This is due to the fact that with its help you can only take your own pictures, but the quality in this case will not be the best. In addition, we will need the camera itself. Currently, most models have a USB connector. If the webcam does not have a microphone, which is typical for older models, you will need headphones with one. If you have a new camera, then you can do without a headset, since you will hear the interlocutor through the speakers, and speak directly into the webcam. By the way, do not forget to free one USB port, because we will need it. Well, now let's see how to connect a webcam to a computer.

Stage one

If you work on a laptop or netbook, then it already has a webcam. To use it you do not need to install, update or download anything. But if you decide to install a higher-quality analogue, then this is a different matter. First, connect the camera to the appropriate port, where it is located, you will figure it out, since it is almost impossible to mix it up. Next, you need to wait a little while the driver is automatically installed from your operating system database. The same procedure applies when connecting a storage device, mobile phone or other equipment, so don’t worry. After this, you will receive a message stating that the device has been successfully installed and is ready to use; in rare cases, you will need to restart your PC. Well, now let's go further and consider a slightly different situation.

Stage two: manual installation

If the camera does not install automatically, you will need to insert a driver disc. But here you may encounter the problem that it is missing or does not work. Of course, this does not mean that you need to throw away the device, so do not despair, because you can turn on the webcam on your computer even without a driver without any problems. To do this, you will need to go to the manufacturer's website and find the appropriate software there. All you have to do is download and install. You can go the other way and install a utility called DriverPack. Its essence is that it will automatically search for a suitable driver on the network and install it. To check if it works, go to “My Computer” and find your USB video device there. If you can enter it and see the picture, then everything is in order, and now you can talk with your family and friends.

Setting up and connecting a webcam to a computer

We must not forget that this USB device has a lot of internal settings. Sometimes the factory settings are quite acceptable, so you don't need to do anything else. But in some cases, you will need to adjust a number of parameters, for example, the volume of audio recording and playback. If this indicator is at the maximum, the voice may be poorly recognized or extraneous noise will be observed. In addition, sometimes it is useful to change the image quality as well as its size. In the latter case, you can make it wider or, conversely, narrower. This is necessary in order to see the interlocutor in full or only his face. In addition, modern webcams have a number of other settings, such as saturation, sharpness, brightness, contrast, etc. If you connected the device to a PC using drivers, the settings will be set automatically, and most of them will be at 50%.

Setting up in Skype: step one

In principle, connecting a webcam to a computer is quite simple and quick. Sometimes it is much more difficult to set it up directly in Skype. Let's figure out how to do this. First, you need to log in to the program, go to the “Tools” section and select “Settings” there. After that, select “video settings”. If you see the picture, then everything is in order, but when a text message from Skype is displayed on the screen, this indicates that there is a problem. The first thing to do is check whether the device is connected to the port and whether the computer finds the webcam. Go to "my computer" and see if "usb video device" appears there. By the way, one of the most common mistakes is that “webcam” can only be used in one program. Therefore, if it is open somewhere else, Skype simply will not see it. It's easy to guess that fixing this is very simple. It is enough to close one of the utilities. You may also need to restart Skype, after which everything will fall into place.

Setting up in Skype: step two

Any webcam requires drivers; the only question is how they will be installed. This can be an archive of your operating system or a disk that comes with the package. If the camera is not displayed in Skype, and you have tried all the methods described above, then do the following. Go to the “Control Panel”, select “System” - “Hardware”, and then “device manager”. You will see a list of all devices running on this PC. Somewhere among them should be your webcam. If it is not there, then this only means that the problem is either with the port socket or with the device cable. If you do find the camera and see a yellow exclamation mark next to the icon, this indicates that there are no drivers. Next, right-click on the icon, select “properties” and “update drivers”. If there is no exclamation mark and the “webcam” is still not visible, reinstall the driver. After this everything should work.

A few important details

Many users report that the webcam does not appear in My Computer. There is nothing wrong with this, especially if you do not use the Windows HP operating system. This is due to the fact that later updates do not support this function. For example, you won’t be able to call up the webcam on a laptop running Win 7; it will only work in Skype. It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that there are a lot of manufacturers of this equipment. They all take a different approach, so the setup will be slightly different. For this simple reason, it is simply impossible to develop a single algorithm, however, debugging is not so difficult. Moreover, in approximately 70% of cases, a webcam, which is installed on a computer automatically, does not cause any inconvenience to the user.

Conclusion

So we have figured out how to install and configure the web. Everything is extremely simple: insert the cable into the port, install the drivers, update them if necessary, close all utilities that use the web - and you can enjoy communication. You also already know how to connect a webcam to a computer without an installation disk, so this shouldn’t be a problem. However, before purchasing, check whether it is necessary to install a driver for this device. They may not give you the disk, but they will tell you where you need to go to download the necessary software. That's probably all on this topic.