Install USB Cameras for Classroom Capture

Owned by Hannah Petty
Last updated: Mar 16, 2016Version comment
2 min read

In this section:

Overview

When you install a USB camera, you typically install a camera application and camera driver software on the podium PC that is also running Classroom Capture. The camera application (not the driver) can sometimes interfere with Classroom Capture. This occurs because both the camera application and Classroom Capture need to communicate with the camera driver and will sometimes "talk" to the driver at the same time. If the camera application is talking to the driver, Classroom Capture cannot and captures fail.

To prevent this possibility, follow the Installation Procedure below, which shows you how to:

  1. Exit the camera application. Do this after it is configured.  You will not need to use the camera application because Classroom Capture controls the camera for you.
  2. Prevent the camera application from starting automatically upon login. Many camera applications do this by running as a Windows system tray application.
  3. Remove the camera application icon from the Windows system tray. You may be tempted to exit the camera application but allow the icon to remain in the system tray. We recommend removing the icon entirely. If the application is launched accidentally (or automatically upon subsequent login), it could interfere with Classroom Capture.
Be sure also to refer to our list of Supported Cameras and Input Devices, specifically recommended devices for CCAP and PCAP Windows or recommended devices for PCAP Mac as applies to the feature and platform you are using. 

Installation Procedure

  1. Be sure you are installing a supported camera. See supported USB devices.
  2. Place the camera in position.
  3. Following the camera manufacturer's directions, install the camera application on the podium PC.
  4. Make sure the camera is connected to the podium PC's USB port.
  5. If you want the camera to capture using particular settings (such as frame rate or resolution quality), configure it using the camera application. Classroom Capture will respect these settings.
  6. Exit the camera application.
  7. Prevent the camera application from starting automatically upon login. Follow the instructions provided by Microsoft, located at: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Stop-a-program-from-running-automatically-when-Windows-starts.
  8. If an icon for the camera application still appears in the Windows system tray, remove it. Follow the instructions provided by Microsoft, located at: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Remove-icons-from-the-notification-area-system-tray.