Document Cameras

R.Rahul Raghavendra
20071336
 What is a Document Camera?
It looks much like a over head projector but it offers
much more.

 It can directly

 It scans and projects stationary and moving objects.

 The most interesting thing is that it the object can

even be 3-dimensional.

 Also known as Visual Presenters, Digital

Visualizers, Digital Overheads and Docucams.
Document Camera vs Overhead Projectors
• Document Camera can be said to be the Overhead Projector of the
21st century.

• Traditional Overhead Projectors uses mirrors and light tables

whereas Document Camera use a high resolution video camera for
display.

• The images from a Document Camera can also be fed into a

television screen or a interactive whiteboard or even to a notebook
monitor.

• Document Camera = overhead projector + additonal capabilties of

a scanner,microscope,whiteboard,cameras.
Overhead Projector
Document Camera
Document Camera-Controls
#1 Camera Head
#2 Light
#3 Connectors (on the back)
#4 Working surface
#5 Power on/off Key
#6 Light key (also works as White Balance
key if pressed for 3 seconds)
#7 Close up lens for camera
#8 Pull ring
#9 Auto focus on/off key (A light above this
key shows that the auto focus is on)
#10 Zoom keys (if the Zoom keys are pressed
simultaneously with the Auto focus key they
work as manual FOCUS keys.)
 What can it display?
(i). TEXT
You can show any document i.e. books, newspapers,maps.

Even if the font of the document to be projected is too small,

you can zoom on the words instead of showing the whole
document.

On the camera head:

• Press the button shown to zoom in.
• Press the button to zoom out.
(ii). 3-D IMAGES AND OBJECTS
Shows 3-dimensional objects that students otherwise would not be
able to see and understand clearly.
• Different views of machine part can be understood clearly just
by placing the part on the working surface.
• A probability professor can roll a die on the working surface to
make the class interesting.
•A moving lizard can be placed on the working surface and the
whole class can observe its motion.

If the object to be shown is too big too be

placed on the working surface or if it has
to be viewed from the side, the camera head
and the light of the camera can be turned
towards them. In this way it can be like a
video camera on a tripod.
Camera Head Alignment
Camera Head Alignment
 Basic Features
Zoom
The zoom feature on a document camera is truly a great benefit. You can zoom
on all sorts of text, graphics, and objects. As a rule, document cameras can
easily read small 8 point-text, and they are ideal for displaying 3-D objects.
You can literally take something as small as a penny and enlarge it so the tiniest
features (nearly invisible to the naked eye) are projected and visible to an
audience.

Image Capture
Of course document cameras allow you to display documents in real-time.
However, they also allow you to capture images just as you would with a
scanner or digital camera. This means you can capture images, save them as
JPEGs, and retrieve them later. You can distribute captured images easily or
add them to electronic presentations.

Other Advanced Features

Some document cameras also come with advanced features such as wireless
remote control, one-touch freeze function for seamless transitions between
document changes, on-screen display menus for easy control of the unit,
multiple inputs for seamless transitions between two applications, and built-in
USB and RS-232 interfaces.
 Advantages
• Replaces the overhead projector and the acetate film sheets
used on it.
• No need for chalkboards to write notes.
• No need for preparing tranparencies in advance.
• Students can share their work in an efficient and effective
manner.
• Facilitates lab procedures, technology skills etc.
• Assists visual learners.
• Capturing of pictures and videos is possible in most of the
models.
• It can also be integrated with notebook softwares.
• It is generally used hospitals, colleges, for video conferencing
and even for displaying maps in military operations.
 Purchasing Document Camera?
• Image quality (CCD and resolution)
Image quality is a function of CCD and resolution. CCD refers to the display
technology of the document camera. Resolution, of course, refers to the amount of
pixels displayed. As a general rule — the more expensive the document camera, the
better the image quality. Lower priced cameras usually provide 800x600 resolution,
and premium cameras can provide up to 1024x768 resolution. Before purchasing a
document camera, it is wise to consult with everyone who will use it to determine their
resolution needs.

• Color reproduction
All document cameras provide decent color reproduction. However, when color
reproduction is extremely important (when colors must be true), it is a good idea to
compare units in the native environment. This will ensure a real "apples-to-apples"
comparision.

• Zoom capability
Some users find a good zoom feature the most important aspect of a document camera.
If you will use the camera to enlarge technical drawings, for example, the zoom feature
might be most important and the color reproduction less so.

• Depth of field
This feature allows you to display taller than average objects.
AVerVision Document Camera Samsung Document Camera
ELMO Document Camera SMART Document Camera
 References
• www.aver.com
• www.smarttech.com
• www.tigerdirect.com
• www.elmousa.com