Communications technology is becoming more and more versatile. Now full-color, live-motion video cameras such as this model by Zoom Telephonics are available to every-day users at affordable prices.Why would you want one? Well, imagine sending family-picture virtual 'Christmas cards' to your relatives by e-mail. For business use, PC video cameras are an essential component in videoconferencing, and video chat has its recreational value as well. If you're one of the thousands of people interested in creating and maintaining their own site on the World Wide Web, video-captured images provide great content in personalizing your web page. The list could go on and on. The Zoom Video Cam PPC (parallel port camera) uses an advanced CMOS array to provide high-resolution color live-action video or point-and-click image capture. With the Zoom Video Cam you can focus as close as 2 inches for extreme close-ups and as far as infinity, with a 52 degree wide-angle field of view that lets you capture an entire room or scene. Digital zoom, pan, and tilt lets you frame your shot without moving the subject or the camera. The ergonomic design of the PPC is at home on your monitor, desk, or just about anywhere, and it even includes a standard camera tripod screw mount. The Zoom Video Cam PPC is capable of resolutions up to 704 x 576 pixels (interpolated CIF), 640 x 480 (interpolated), 352 x 288 (CIF), 176 x 144 (QCIF), or any custom size less than 704 x 576. Its automatic exposure, contrast adjustment, and backlight and fluorescent light 'flicker' correction improve the quality of your video images. And better still, it installs easily in just a few minutes simply by plugging its cable into the computer's printer port and running the installation software. Software bundled with the Zoom/Video Cam PPC includes Microsoft NetMeeting for Internet conferencing, BoxTop iVisit for video chats, SmithMicro VideoLink VideoMail, and Jasc Paintshop Pro SE for graphics editing.
