Linux Desktop Hacks

Motion Capture and Video Conferencing Fun #64

Chapter 8, Desktop Programs

|

201

HACK

Most webcams are USB-powered, so you need to ensure that your USB sys-

tem is configured correctly

[Hack #93]. When you plug in a camera, it should

load the Video 4 Linux module. Check that it does with this command:

foo@Bar:~$ lsmod

In the output you should see videodev listed. If it is not listed, you should

insert it with

insmod:

foo@bar:~$ insmod videodev

Once Video 4 Linux is loaded, it creates one or more video entries in /dev.

Check this with:

foo@bar:~$ ls -al /dev/video*

When you run this command, you should see at least one entry appear. If this

is not the case, your camera is not working with Linux. You should double-

check your previous work to make sure you did everything necessary.

Using GnomeMeeting

When you first run GnomeMeeting, you are taken through a configuration

druid that helps you set up and configure the program. Included in this

setup routine are some features for ensuring your webcam is working prop-

erly. At the end of this process, you can click the webcam icon and see the

video from your camera in the window.

If you see a corrupted picture when viewing video in GnomeMeeting, the

webcam driver might have some bugs that might require an update to a

newer driver version; this has been a problem with the OV511 chip-based

range of devices. You should check your camera with a range of software

such ...