Connect a document camera to a microscope, computer monitor, television or projector screen to capture and display quality images for lectures and presentations. To connect to a computer, insert the USB plug from your computer into the USB port on the document camera. Images are saved to the computer. If you do not have a computer nearby, insert a scan disk (SD) card into the base of the document camera to store your images and retrieve them later. Connect your document camera to a high-definition television via the HDMI output port. Mainstream document cameras typically connect with a whiteboard (a screen specialized for the document camera visual output) rather than a computer monitor or television screen. Microscopes are connected to the document camera via a microscope adapter (Remove the eyepiece from the microscope. Place the adapter on to the microscope where the eyepiece goes). Some document cameras, such as the Smart Document Camera, do not require the eyepiece adapter, but are aligned directly over the eyepiece of the microscope. Microscopes connected to a document camera will capture XGA, SXGA or UXGA images (the latter being the highest quality). The image from the microscope will be captured by the document camera and then displayed on to a screen or projector.
Features
The document camera has two arms: the lens arm positions the lens over the document; the lamp arm illuminates the face of the document. An input/output (I/O) port provides the necessary connectivity to peripherals (monitors, televisions, projector screens and microscopes). The document camera stores images so that you do not have to move documents around during a presentation. Pull up an image from the software that comes with the document camera for each slide presentation you want displayed on a projector screen or television. A document camera with a 3.2-mega pixel sensor will take exceptionally clear pictures. Laser guides help the user to position the camera over the document that needs to be captured. Zoom the camera lens in/out by pressing the plus/minus signs on the camera base or by using the software that comes with the camera. Most software allows you to control the lens features entirely from your computer.
Uses
The crystal-clear images and numerous applications for a document camera extend beyond the scope of a traditional overhead projector. Use the document camera to give presentations or lectures. Unlike slide projectors, document cameras allow you to display three-dimensional objects on to a screen. Use this 3-D view to give college lectures (anything from dissecting frogs to lecturing on the parts of a flower). Move the head and adjustable arm of the camera to present different angles of an object on to a screen. Toggle on the microscope view to display items under a microscope lens on to a monitor or projector screen (use for microbiology classes). Present hard copy documents in a court room, business meeting or classroom lecture.
