This morning I was fortunate enough to be able to remotely attend the San Francisco Halfcon.
Jutta brought her laptop, and we Skyped. Oh, how we Skyped. The sky was both blue and cloudy, and hawks circled overhead watching for errant rodents that might be scouting for croissant crumbs.
But I digress.
While I could see my fellow bakers on Jutta's laptop camera, and I could verify that my camera was on by viewing my own image on my computer monitor (BO-ring...), the clan in SF could only see an icon image where my fair visage should have been.
But that's probably just a FIFO buffer or something. Or a thingy setting. That's not why I'm here. I'm here to talk about the SHLCWSM. And why?
Because while the 'bakers were kind enough to move the laptop regularly and give me shifting views, periodically somebody behind the laptop camera would speak up. And my human impulse was to turn to see who was talking.
So, on to the meat of the idea. Laptops have cameras, they have speakers and microphones. But this idea (those three words are the digital equivalent of " Here, hold my beer, watch this!")is a camera in Jutta's computer that I can control from my keyboard.
When the position of the person speaking (not referred to as "the speaker" for technical reasons) shifts, I want to be able to extend the telescoping "Sprinkler Head" unit up until it is above the laptop screen.
Then, using input from the Stereo Microphones through my speakers, determine where the person speaking (not referred to as "the speaker" for technical reasons) is seated and swivel the camera around so I can see them while they're talking.
And every time the focus of the conversation switches position, I want to swivel the camera to follow it.
Oh, and the term "Sprinkler Head"? Both due to the telescoping / rotating functions that resemble the device's hardworking lawn cousin, and also because if the laptop owner chooses to fill the reservoir, the operator can once or twice squirt a stream of water like the classic lapel flower.