PDA

View Full Version : [ubuntu] Multiple Webcam Control

graphic
September 2nd, 2009, 11:09 PM
My problem:
I have Ubuntu Server 9.04 installed on a machine, I'm using it as a LAMP server. I've never used webcams in a Linux environment before. I need to control two USB webcams on this server, having them take still images periodically preferably through a bash script. I was considering using this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826563006) webcam because it's cheap and this is for a school project.

My questions are:
How easy will this be for me to accomplish?
Do you think this camera is a good choice?
rp3
September 2nd, 2009, 11:20 PM
My problem:
I have Ubuntu Server 9.04 installed on a machine, I'm using it as a LAMP server. I've never used webcams in a Linux environment before. I need to control two USB webcams on this server, having them take still images periodically preferably through a bash script. I was considering using this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826563006) webcam because it's cheap and this is for a school project.

My questions are:
How easy will this be for me to accomplish?
Do you think this camera is a good choice?

Some good info here Ubuntu Docs (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Webcam)
graphic
September 3rd, 2009, 12:06 AM
Some good info here Ubuntu Docs (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Webcam)

That's a good start, I got a nice compatibility list at least, however it seemed to be more geared for using the cameras for Video Chat and the like, I just need some tool I can use on the command line to take a picture with a specific camera (since I have two and the source matters).
rp3
September 3rd, 2009, 12:08 AM
That's a good start, I got a nice compatibility list at least, however it seemed to be more geared for using the cameras for Video Chat and the like, I just need some tool I can use on the command line to take a picture with a specific camera (since I have two and the source matters).

Cheese will do it HERE (http://projects.gnome.org/cheese/)
HermanAB
September 3rd, 2009, 12:13 AM
Google for a program called "motion":
http://www.google.com/linux?hl=en&q=motion&btnG=Search

It very likely does what you want.
bear24rw
September 3rd, 2009, 01:57 AM
Almost every webcam works in Linux, even the new ones like logitech 9000 works fine. There are numerous programs in the repo's that will take pictures, some are even meant for taking pictures periodically and uploading to webserver