Using PHP to Access a User's Webcam

Question

I'd like to allow users to record videos directly from their webcam. I haven't done much work with PHP but am stuck with it for this project. We currently have a system in place for video uploading and encoding, but nothing to actually access a user's webcam. How would you recommend I proceed?

Answer 1

Webcams aren't available to HTML or JavaScript/DOM in any browsers that I know of, so you're going to end up dependent on some sort of plugin. I'd recommend you start your search with Adobe Flash/Flex, though It's possible that Microsoft Silverlight is able to do the same thing. Flex is a bit more reliable technology and has been around longer, but Microsoft is pouring a ton of money into Silverlight, and I expect it to improve radically over the next few years.

Answer 2

You need client side technology -- PHP is server side. Check out Adobe Flash/Flex. I don't know anything about Microsoft Silverlight.