Using a joystick to control PTZ

Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism of a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?

On Jan 2, 8:06*pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:
Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism of a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?


Just use a trackerpod

http://www.trackerpod.com

Can I use a joystick attached to my PC to control it? I didn't see that
function.

"Eagletron" wrote in message
...
On Jan 2, 8:06 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:
Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism of
a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?


Just use a trackerpod

People generally use their mouse but you can try a wireless air mouse
which is closer to a joystick.



On Jan 8, 6:22*pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:
Can I use a joystick attached to my PC to control it? I didn't see that
function.

"Eagletron" wrote in message

...
On Jan 2, 8:06 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:

Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism of
a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?

Just use a trackerpod

So you're suggesting I take my PTZ camera, mount it on your PTZ base, and
use your mouse-driven PTZ interface instead of the Logitech mouse-driven PTZ
interface?

What does this gain?

"Eagletron" wrote in message
...
People generally use their mouse but you can try a wireless air mouse
which is closer to a joystick.



On Jan 8, 6:22 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:
Can I use a joystick attached to my PC to control it? I didn't see that
function.

"Eagletron" wrote in message

...
On Jan 2, 8:06 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:

Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism
of
a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?

Just use a trackerpod

steve what webcam do you have?
i have a logitech orbit pan and tilt thing..

i havent heard of anyone using a joystick to move one of these types of
webcam but i like the sound of it...

ill have a good search around and if i find anything ill post back.



Steve Foley wrote:
So you're suggesting I take my PTZ camera, mount it on your PTZ base,
and use your mouse-driven PTZ interface instead of the Logitech
mouse-driven PTZ interface?

What does this gain?

"Eagletron" wrote in message
...
People generally use their mouse but you can try a wireless air mouse
which is closer to a joystick.



On Jan 8, 6:22 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:
Can I use a joystick attached to my PC to control it? I didn't see
that function.

"Eagletron" wrote in message

...
On Jan 2, 8:06 pm, "Steve Foley" wrote:

Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ
mechanism of
a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?

Just use a trackerpod

--
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we guarantee our work and only offer the highest standards.

"ThE SlAyEr" wrote in message
...
steve what webcam do you have?
i have a logitech orbit pan and tilt thing..

i havent heard of anyone using a joystick to move one of these types of
webcam but i like the sound of it...

ill have a good search around and if i find anything ill post back.

It's an Orbit AF. I've been searching and haven't found anything yet. I did
find a PTZ program from Logitech that uses the directshow drivers. It comes
with source and object code. After spending eight hours trying to build a
development environent that would compile the code (c++) I gave up.

First failure was dshow.h was missing. I downloaded a 500MB Platform SDK
from Microsoft, only to find that ddraw.h was missing. I downloaded another
500MB Directx SDK only to get messages that I had too many errors.

I don't know what versions of what libraries they used to develop it, but it
would have been a good starting point.

I'm working with an outfit putting these in nightclubs. I'm using a PC as an
encoder, but with no keyboard/mouse/monitor. I figured that because Logitech
makes both PTZ cameras, as well as joysticks, someone, somewhere has figured
out how to do this.

I'd really hate to have to put in a keyboard/mouse/monitor just so the DJ
can move the camera. It would make more sense to put a fixed camera on a
ball and socket and let him move it by hand.

On Jan 10, 6:06*am, "Steve Foley" wrote:
So you're suggesting I take my PTZ camera, mount it on your PTZ base, and
use your mouse-driven PTZ interface instead of the Logitech mouse-driven PTZ
interface?

What does this gain?



Sorry we didn't realize you were talking about the Orbit. Our
TrackerPod works with other Logitech
webcams (or any webcam) to give them PTZ function.

On Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:06:29 GMT, "Steve Foley"
wrote:

Has anyone heard of, or written, a utility to control the PTZ mechanism of a
(Logitech or any other) Webcam?

In the past I've made my own pan/tilt mechanisms from RC servos
and a servo controller (like below). I wrote a simple program to
pan/tilt the cams using a joystick or joypad. Fairly easy to do
for this type of pan/tilt mechanism.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/ppswitcher-demo.htm
..

Steve Foley wrote:
"ThE SlAyEr" wrote in message
...
steve what webcam do you have?
i have a logitech orbit pan and tilt thing..

i havent heard of anyone using a joystick to move one of these types of
webcam but i like the sound of it...

ill have a good search around and if i find anything ill post back.

It's an Orbit AF. I've been searching and haven't found anything yet. I did
find a PTZ program from Logitech that uses the directshow drivers. It comes
with source and object code. After spending eight hours trying to build a
development environent that would compile the code (c++) I gave up.

First failure was dshow.h was missing. I downloaded a 500MB Platform SDK
from Microsoft, only to find that ddraw.h was missing. I downloaded another
500MB Directx SDK only to get messages that I had too many errors.

I don't know what versions of what libraries they used to develop it, but it
would have been a good starting point.

I'm working with an outfit putting these in nightclubs. I'm using a PC as an
encoder, but with no keyboard/mouse/monitor. I figured that because Logitech
makes both PTZ cameras, as well as joysticks, someone, somewhere has figured
out how to do this.

I'd really hate to have to put in a keyboard/mouse/monitor just so the DJ
can move the camera. It would make more sense to put a fixed camera on a
ball and socket and let him move it by hand.


Hello Steve

AbelCam allows you to control the Logitech PTZ camera through a browser.
Using the enclosed web pages (AbelCam comes with a web server), you may
control the cam with the cursor keys.

AbelCam supports up to 10 cameras and also allows to follow motion -
your DJ won't have to do anything to move the cameras...

--
AbelCam - free Webcam software for Windows
http://www.MultiCamServer.com