Project: webcam without wires

Here’s a quick project I’ve been meaning to write up since I first trialled the 3G dongle from 3mobilebuzz.

The ability to eliminate the physical connection between a PC and the internet enables a whole range of applications. I’ve used it to check email on the move, web browse, upload images to flickr, post blog postings and demo web application in press meetings.

But my favourite use is a web cam. Using TinCan a £10 capture and upload application, I set up a web cam on my PC to upload images to my personal web space (image above shows a view over the City of London from the south).

The data throughput isn’t gutsy enough to act as a live connection and would quickly max out your data plan but uploading a captured image (about 30 to 40kB depending to quality) webcam image to a web server every few minutes is entirely viable.

Could 3G data connectivity see the emergence of mobile and temporary web cams? Or am I just an excitable geek?

Also posted on www.rainierpr.co.uk