Whilst Aros development is accelerating at a large pace lately I have been trying to encourage the development of a generic Web-cam driver for Aros for quite some time and have struggled to get one.

So as the title suggests I will offer a free IMICA Silent machine which is starting to sell in reasonable numbers to any developer who can deliver a generic USB Web-cam driver.

Key points

1. Must support as many Web-cams as possible.
2. Must allow applications to grab any frames from the streams for processing.
3. Must be able to support at least two cameras at the same time.
4. Easy to incorporate into the Aros system.
5. Must be released for free usage

If you want to develop for Aros but prefer the cash instead, this is acceptable too.
Interested? PM me or mail to clusteruk@hotmail.com

Also posted on Aros-Exec.org

Last edited by clusteruk on 06-Jul-2010 at 07:04 AM.
Last edited by clusteruk on 06-Jul-2010 at 07:01 AM.

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@clusteruk

more important thing: what software to use with webcam?
icaros 1.2.2 see my oldest webcam, but there aren't video chat or others..

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@Seiya

Chicken and Egg really, if we have a driver then people can port.

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Quote:

1. Must support as many Web-cams as possible. 2. Must allow applications to grab any frames from the streams for processing. 3. Must be able to support at least two cameras at the same time. 4. Easy to incorporate into the Aros system. 5. Must be released for free usage

It's not possible to have a generic driver. And having a driver is useless without software, not to mention it would be needed to add some APÏ for AROS which does not exists... What's the point of having a webcam if you cannot use it in your favourite chat/software ?

I think it's a far too big achivement for now. You can't just jump on what you'd like to see and "ok, I want that! Let's create a bounty". There need to be priorities, some things may not be developped before something else already exists (a webcam driver... for what API for example ?), ... That was my two cents though.

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@Leo

Well, people also said I could not get an Atom fully supported

Also I mentioned to support as many as possible, and this is a fact finding mission and to see if any outside the Aros community can help.

Last edited by clusteruk on 06-Jul-2010 at 07:57 AM.
Last edited by clusteruk on 06-Jul-2010 at 07:52 AM.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@clusteruk

People also said SMP/Full memory protection wasn't possible on the Amiga... Where is it ? ;)

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@Leo



Who knows what will be done in time.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
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@all

This has link been passed to me by a developer and looks like a good standard to follow. I realise this is not small project, but if we can get interest then a bounty would look like the best route and I would throw in the value of machine into this bounty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_USB_video_class_devices

However, can I ask if webcam drivers are available on OS4 or MorphOS and what standard they were built around. If not then this could be a cross platform project, if they do then maybe a bit of knowledge sharing would be good. I believe there is one on classic 68k.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@Leo

Quote:

It's not possible to have a generic driver.

It is possible, in fact my Deneb already supports it

Quote:

And having a driver is useless without software, not to mention it would be needed to add some APÏ for AROS which does not exists... What's the point of having a webcam if you cannot use it in your favourite chat/software ?

You are right with that, it would be a good idea to talk with Felix Schwartz to see if he would be willing to open source VHI (and maybe some of his VHI apps), perhaps with a bounty.

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@clusteruk

latest Poseidon already supports UVC with Deneb.

I forgot AROS/MorphOS poseidon driver needs to be updated to support isochronous transfers.

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@Crumb

Thanks for the advice, it is true no point having a driver without apps, but likewise no driver !

However, there are apps out there waiting to be ported if we have a driver. I would like to see a compatible system across all Amiga flavours but that may be unattainable.

Edit: Have searched around for Felix Schwartz contact details and not found any. So does any body have a contact for him.

Last edited by clusteruk on 06-Jul-2010 at 09:27 AM.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@clusteruk

I mispelled his name, it's "Felix Schwarz"

http://www.iospirit.com

IOSPIRIT GmbH
Am Feldacker 4
91154 Roth
Germany

+49 (0)9171 827831 (available on workdays from 10h to 18h GMT+1)

info@iospirit.com

Last edited by Crumb on 06-Jul-2010 at 09:41 AM.

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The only spanish amiga news web page/club: CUAZ

@clusteruk

How about porting and enhancing this program http://www.os4depot.net/index.php?function=showfile&file=driver/video/sonix.lha

It offers basic webcam support and allows you to review and capture images from a Webcam. I purchased a cheap webcam off ebay that works with it for about £5.

It dose not allow you to capture video to chat online but it would probably make a good start it it could be enhanced to support a few more webcams.

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Sam440ep 667mhz, 512MB, 120GB 2.5" HD, OS4.1FE
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@Crumb

I have mailed him, thanks.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

old irc chat, BlackIRC 68k (or other name) supported video chat..
maybe someone could be a port.

BlackIRC was free :)

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@Dwyloc

I have had a look but not qualified enough to say if it is worth using as a starting point. I believe this project needs to follow a global standard even if more work involved.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

Quote:

It is possible, in fact my Deneb already supports it

Ok, so I can plug in my Logitech camera and it will magically work ?

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@clusteruk

Spca5xx driver.

One man writes Linux drivers for 235 USB webcams

@Leo

Quote:

Ok, so I can plug in my Logitech camera and it will magically work ?

Standards are not product of magic (perhaps mass storage standard sounds like magic to you). if your webcam supports UVC standard it will work. The general rule is that if the webcam works with XP-SP3/Vista/7 without specific drivers it will work. But since you are so curious you can plug it in your Deneb... you can buy cheap UVC webcams on dealextreme if it doesn't work.

Last edited by Crumb on 06-Jul-2010 at 02:10 PM.
Last edited by Crumb on 06-Jul-2010 at 01:46 PM.

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@Crumb: my point was that there's no magic indeed. And that talking about a "standard" with WebCams is like talking about standard with USB Modems or Gfx Cards: there's no true standard. Every device (or vendor) comes with a specific driver needed to take advantage of it.

Of course, it should be possible to support the very few devices following the specifications... But I wouldn't call that a standard. Custom webcams *are* standard, and that's the problem.

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