Requirements

openEyA-webcam integrates different technologies under Linux O.S. (Ubuntu) and supports two different Modalities for the automated capture and production system of chalkboard and/or digital lectures. These are:

  1. Screen Capture (openEyA-lite): to capture automatically your own computer screen (i.e., grab slides done with PPT, PDF or any other digital presentation) ; You can give and project a seminar/lecture while recording it!
  2. USB Webcam (Linux compatible, UVC Driver) to take photos/slides in order to zoom in over specific areas of a classroom podium, blackboard or a projected screen. A second (internal or USB) is used for the Lectures video. Learn how to improve the focus!

Example of openEyA-webcam hardware setup (click to zoom)

As of this writting April 2011, the implementation cost of openEyA in modality lite can cost less than 200 Euros (the price of a Netbook) or less than 350 Euros if using USB webcam (HD), including

  • 1 portable PC with Ubuntu Linux O.S. (e.g., low-cost Netbook 32 bits).
  • 1 USB Webcam (Linux compatible, UVC Driver; e.g., Logitech High-Definition Webcam C510 8Mpx) to be used for the taking of synchronized Slides.
  • 1 (in-line or USB) microphone (omni-directional, e.g, UB1 Samson Mic or Acousticmagic Array Mic).
  • a second (any) Webcam (optional if external - Linux UVC Driver) to be used for the video.
Note: Starting from version 5.0.0, openEyA does NOT longer work using a remotely controlled digital camera or a screen capture tool such as vga2usb. To record you only need now is ANY Linux compatible webcam! (to obtain similar results).

Slide of a Chalkboard using openEyA-webcam with a low-cost, autofocus 2 Mpx webcam! (click to zoom) placed at more than 3 meters distant.

A key issue to carry out massive digital lectures recordings (besides to store, manage and share them), is to automate as much as possible the production and post-production processes to pull down all the costs. openEyA satisfies all these requirements in a way that has yet no similar.