by Amber Benge

Created on: February 26, 2008

So you invested in a webcam with big dreams of taking cool video to share with the world? Now you are staring at the little lens and you can't figure out a thing to do with it. Here are some ideas to get you started. Here are some practical and pointless ways to use a webcam.

1. Keep In Touch
If you have friends or family who live far away, use your webcame to catch up. Enjoy a real time chat where you can actually see your loved one face to face, well sort of. This is a great way to stay happy in a long distance relationship. Webcams have been used by our soldiers to stay in touch with family back home, and this has afforded the best way for children to keep hope alive for their fighting parents. If you don't have anyone living far away, there are hundreds of chat rooms to choose from where you can find a chat buddy from across the world. You never know who you will meet or what you could learn from a new foreign friend.

2. Spy on Your Kids
Did you ever wonder what your children do when they know you're in the shower? Use your webcam to see just what kind of trouble they might get into and they will be amazed at your psychic powers to know just what they did. Many people use webcams to keep tabs on their nannies and babysitters too.

3. Keep Tabs on Your House
If you're going out of town, use your webcam to check in on your home. You might feel a little more peaceful leaving the country if a quick check on the internet can reveal that your house is safe and sound, waiting for you to come home.

4. Pointless Surveilance
Did you ever wonder what your dog did in the back yard all day? Stick a webcam out there and you will find out! Stick a webcam in the bedroom (not for adult entertainment... get your mind out of the gutter!) and prove to your spouse once and for all that they DO snore!

5. Start A Verbal Blog
If you're not so good with writing, try setting up a webpage with a spoken blog. At the end of the day, you can talk about what you did or where you went. You can scream in anger at your boss or act out what you wish you could've said to your kids when they shaved the cat. Just be sure you give limited access to this blog so you can monitor who knows your innermost thoughts!

Whatever you choose to do with your webcam, have fun! There are thousands of internet sites with directories of other webcam users, so surf around and get some more great ideas. There is no end to the hundreds of webcam uses, so just start playing and you'll soon have lots of fun with your new piece of equipment!

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