DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

FogCam, the world’s oldest webcam, is being shut down after 25 years of service

Aug 26, 2019 by John Aldred Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Although still somewhat popular, webcams have become practically obsolete these days with the use of phones, laptops and monitor with built-in cameras. They still serve a purpose, but selfie cameras on phones probably get a lot more of our attention now. At one point, though, webcams were the pinnacle of computer imaging tech for many consumers.

In 1994, San Francisco State University students Jeff Schwartz and Dan Wong set up the FogCam. A webcam that has run in various parts of the campus for the last 25 years, but now it’s shutting down.

The camera was never officially endorsed by the University, merely tolerated, Schwartz revealed in an interview with SFGate. It was originally set up as a way to show the world what life as a student was like on the San Francisco State University campus. It’s being taken down because they say they “no longer have a really good view or place to put the camera”.

The announcement of the camera’s impending demise was originally made via Twitter…

After 25 years, Fogcam is shutting down forever at the end of August. Webdog & Danno thank our viewers and San Francisco State University for their support over the years.

The Internet has changed a lot since 1994, but Fogcam will always have a special place in its history.

— FogCam! (@FogCam) August 18, 2019

The FogCam wasn’t the first webcam to thrust its view on the web. That honour went to the Trojan Room coffee pot at Cambridge University after one scientist wanted a way to check the status of the coffee pot remotely. But the FogCam is the longest-serving webcam. Even in 2004, it was considered to be the oldest webcam still in operation, uploading a new image to the web every 20 seconds.

After a quarter of a century, the FogCam will be switched off permanently on August 30th, 2019, but the website will remain for “the sake of posterity”.

It’s seen a lot in its time, both literally and figuratively. It’s survived many of the Internet technologies that have come and gone, and still just kept on trucking. I remember seeing it myself back in the 90s and forgot all about it until the recent announcement.

I wonder what the oldest active webcam would be when this ends? What’s the oldest running webcam you know of?

[via The Verge]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Police Shut Down A Los Angeles Photo Walk After Mistaking It For A Rave Uploading Videos To YouTube? You May Be Shut Down for Title Trademark Infringement Drone sightings shut down Gatwick airport – up to 100,000 passengers delayed Heathrow airport shut down due to drone sightings

Filed Under: news Tagged With: FogCam, live stream, Streaming, webcam

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Instagram influencer accused of faking and staging a motorcycle accident for promotional gain
Are you a photography snob? »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Learn photography

Recent Posts

  • Kodak could have dominated digital photography
  • Tourists fight over a photo spot at famous Pedra do Telégrafo
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max: First impressions
  • Blackmagic’s new app turns your iPhone into a cinema camera (kinda)
  • Nikon announces Zf shortage (Surprise!)

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy