Oct 1999: http://browse.to/jimmy

Sorry, I put my webcam offline because I am enhancing the panner. Hopefully everything will be up by Dec. 1999. Meanwhile check the stills and other info...

Some info about my webcam.....
My goal was to use basic HTML (no Java) and a 56K Modem over a POST-line to initiate a webcam in my appartement.
Searching the net for some ideas and info, I learned that most of the programs out there used Java or relied on a host serving the webcam.
So I ended up writing my own stuff.

In the beginning I had only the webcam pointed to wherever I left it to, but then I bought one of these motor driven panners at a garage sale ($4).
The motion driven webcam gives you a wider insight into the room and made sure, that I clean it up once in a while....
Some other conditions came into play by setting up this webcam:
I didn't want to abuse my ISP by staying online all the time (thus blocking an IP address), so my webcam (better: the internet connection to it) will be turned on by your request only.

Here are some details of the system.
I used Perl for scripting to initiate some of the mentioned functions.
My webcam is a Connectix b/w Camera.
The PC is based on an AMD K6/233 MHz w. 64 MB.
The motion of the cam is handeled by a Prince Panner which is normally used for standard (heavy) �photography equipment (having this standard screw).
Some translation circuitry (based on a PIC) adapts the RS232 serial commands from my software to this button-controlled panner.
I have a "slow" 56K modem only (connects at around 48K) so I can upload pictures at best at 33K.
As noted above, a webcam session needs to be initiated by you. So if you press "Enter" on the intro page, my system will be paged immediately.
This initiates an automatic call from my PC to my ISP.
Once the connection to the internet is established, the uploading (refreshing) of the pictures will begin.
You can control the position of my webcam by pressing the appropriate icons on my webpage. These will just send my PC the command to move to the requested position.

Once I have a cablemodem or xSDL connection to the internet, the whole procedure can be made much easier and I even might end up using one of the many programs for this purpose.
Until then, we have to stick to this configuration.

Troubleshooting: Allthough I made sure, that even AOL (Advertisement Online) -consumers should be able to work with my webcam, there are some situations where you might not get a picture at all:

The room is not in a presentable state.
The Computer is not turned on.
Santa Monica was without power for 3 hours, thus my UPS is drained.
My ISP is too busy (happens rarely).
The phone line is busy (only when I send/receive Faxes).
It is dark in my room. (I will attach some IR LED's soon).

In these casees you might have a look at a small b/w panorama view.

Or check the storage area, where the noisy PC's are (instead of clothes)

Any session will be terminated after 20 Minutes, which gives you plenty of time to check out my room.

The motion of the panner is limited to 110 degrees horizontal and 40 degrees vertically. This is due to the stupid design of the panner, which I will change soon. You will then be able to get a real 360 degree roundview.

BTW, to all you "hackers" out there: Yes, I made sure, that you cannot crack into the system which serves the webcam.� But if you could somehow overcome my protection measures, look for the "gotcha.txt" file.� If you send me the code in that file by email ( jimmycam(at)iname.com ) you will receive $50 from me.

Here are some links to interesting webcams I found. This is just my personal list and it does not contain all the webcams out there. Sorry again, I have to redo this page completely, too.