The Great Pyramids and Times Square all from my sofa

Technology makes my head spin sometimes. A GPS that can get me from here to Timbuktu this and a cell phone that has more memory than my computer that. It makes me feel like I will never catch up and really know what is going on in the tech world.

Then there’s the web cam.

About two years ago I purchased a web cam on a whim, mainly because it was on sale. In two years I have used it a whopping three times. All three times I got so frustrated I wanted to throw it out the window. It would freeze mid frame while I was making a weird face or while I was eating something. For minutes my face would be frozen on the screen while the person on the other end of the web cam was laughing hysterically. I gave the whole kit and caboodle to Goodwill. Good riddance web cam.

On my regular evening browse through Fox News I ran across hundreds of web cams that are stationed throughout the world. These web cams aren’t like the rinky dink web cam I bought; these are high tech. I can see a beach in Israel, the Vatican and Old Faithful with just the click of my mouse and 30 seconds of patience while it loads.

Some of the web cams have constant video, others have sporadic photos. Either way I think it’s amazing. But I do have to say, it’s a little weird at the same time.

I watched the Times Square web cam for about ten minutes and I have a feeling some people know where this camera is. There was a man standing in front of it on his cell phone, waving hysterically for minutes.

On the other hand, I honestly think some people have no clue they are being broadcast live over the Internet. A business man yelling obscenities over his cell phone walks by as does a tourist looking couple looking very lost and confused, pointing frantically for directions.

Check out all the webcams foxnews has available.

Fox News isn’t the only web site with webcams available. It is possible to virtually see any part of the Earth with just a simple search. Rocky Mountain snow fall? Got it. Los Angeles traffic? Got it. But one has to wonder…..how far is too far? Must we equip every inch of the Earth with a web cam just so we can see what is going on?

I’ll admit it, I’m nosy. At the same time though, what is the purpose to these web cams all over the world? To satisfy nosy people like me? Probably not. So why install hundreds and thousands of web cams and stream it on the Internet?


I came up with three reasons as to why these web cams are so strategically placed:
1) We want to travel without actually leaving the comfort of our living room. We have such busy lives and are constantly on the run. Why vacation when you can stay at home and watch a beautiful beach scene without greasy sunscreen or sand in your shoes?
2) We want to re-live the vacation we actually took. We went to New York City (Times Square in particular) and absolutely loved it. We want to be there everyday all day but can’t afford the rent of a New York City apartment. Solution: watch it online via webcam.
3) We have the technology and we are utilizing it. Why not put them up? Why not let people into other parts of the world? It’s just like seeing a photograph of a place, right?

So as technology continues to grow and more gadgets come out, I will forever be a little behind the times. But never fear, the web cam is something we can all master. We can watch any place, anytime and anywhere with Internet access. Take advantage of technology. Check it out! Make good use of technology!