Extreme Makeover Edition

[edong]

In this ABC TV series, I always see that portion where Ty holds a small videocam shooting himself ( and the demolition of the house). The video is seen on a laptop by the family on vacation at the other end. How do they do that? Are expensive equipment involved here? Thanks.

[guns1inger]

You will probably find that it isn't done in real time, and the family are watching it straight from disk. Most of these shows are bogus in their timelines. There is no reality in reality TV.

[edong]

Thanks.

Silly me. I thought I could use that technology (if not very expensive) to chat with relatives from far away. Right now, we're using Yahoo and the video is jerky at 1 fps.

[gadgetguy]

1 fps isn't video, it's a slideshow.

[edong]

"video - relating to the production of images on video displays"

Silly me.

[guns1inger]

Do you have broadband ?
What bandwidth ?

[edong]

We have DSL 1.5 Mbps-down 280kbps-up. For some reasons, the so-called Super Webcam of Yahoo won't work even though:

1. there is only one (also DSL at the other end). Both of us are in California.

2. I turned off the firewall per their instruction(which I am not very comfortable doing)

I am using USB1 webcam but my brother who's got a USB2 webcam connected to a UBS2 port also has the same problem. I would be very happy if I can get 10 to 15 fps. Audio is loud and clear though, even when we chat with relatives in the Philippines (also DSL). P4 2GHZ 512MB

[guns1inger]

USB 2 would be better at both ends, but USB1 should get you 10fps over than connection. I would be blaming yahoo (and turning the firewall back on) and finding better software.