Desktop Screen Sharing with Flash Video Chat Software
Screen sharing requires a driver to capture the screen and simulate a webcam. There are multiple webcam simulation drivers of this type, commercial and free software packages.
With the screen capture driver enabled you just have to select the new “webcam” in flash (right click the flash and select from settings in any flash video chat software).
Only the user that shares his screen needs to have this type of driver installed. Those running tutoring, consultation, support websites can purchase a commercial software package that includes this type of driver (i.e. Camtasia Recorder with the Live Output feature). Most drivers allow defining a zone to capture and even resizing the output. Chat applications usually require a 320×240 webcam stream at 15fps so you should configure output to that if possible.
Screen sharing solutions:
Windows
VH Screen Capture Driver – free for personal use
UScreenCapture – look for Add-ons: Screen Capture DirectShow source filter
MReplay Broadcast – screen sharing driver as service, register on their site to use
Webcam Max – webcam effects, screen sharing, recording, play video, draw on video, picture in picture
Fake Webcam – allows screen sharing or playing video
Virtual Audio Cable – simulates sound device
Mac
CamTwist – free, on certain versions works only with Chrome browser
Another popular method for screen sharing (as seen on youtube), but less professional is pointing your webcam to the screen.
Here is an older test with the VH Screen Capture driver:
dd-Ons:Screen Capture DirectShow source filter.
For best screen sharing use 2 monitors (ie. laptop screen + external monitor): on one you put the application, window or element that you want to share, on the other you put the Flash video chat application which most probably will also display your screen video feed using the screen-share driver.
Screen size and video streaming size are not the same: The screen sharing driver might capture the entire screen ie 1920×1080 or a zone, but the video chat software might request only a lower ie 320×240 area.
Different drivers have different ways of handling this:
1) stretch down the whole screen to fit 320×240 or
2) provide only the 320×240 area around the mouse (VH) or
3) provide only the 420×240 area around the center of the screen (Live Output and UScreenCapture).
Related Posts:
- Online Video Consultation Solution by VideoWhisper
- Video Conference Plugin for WordPress by VideoWhisper
- VideoWhisper Video Recorder
- Live Streaming v2 by VideoWhisper
- VideoWhisper 2 Way Video Chat Script
- Installing VideoWhisper Video Conference on your Windows Computer
- Red5 Hosting for Video Chat Scripts
- VideoWhisper Video Conference
This entry was posted by admin on January 6, 2009 at 1:54 pm, and is filed under Scripts, Video Chat. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.Both comments and pings are currently closed.
-
Comments are closed
- Configuring P2P Settings for Flash Player
- Integrating VideoWhisper Applications with other scripts
- Install Red5 on Debian
- Playback RTMP with JW Player
- Configuring Flash Live Video Streaming Applications
- Install get_flash_videos on Linux
- Load/Embed PowerPoint PPT, PDF, PPS, DOC in Flash
- Chatroulette Clone Alternative Script
- Run Red5 & Wowza Flash Media Servers on Same Linux Server
- VideoWhisper Video Recorder
Video Broadcast
Enter Presentation
Enter Conference
I am the developer of a software called ScreenCamera that allows users to stream the desktop inside video chatting programs and websites such as Skype, Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Messenger, blogTV, Justin.tv, Mogulus, and so on.
ScreenCamera has a free version that streams the desktop without any cost or any limitation. The paid version supports webcams allowing to users to stream desktop and webcam together and also use the webcam on multiple programs at the same time.
It is a free desktop sharing program that has the only downside of having to shrink the desktop to 320×240 pixels that is the resolution most video chatting programs and websites use. It makes up for it allowing the user to follow the cursor or select regions of the desktop and by not interfering with the live video chatting.
You can download the free version here:
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/screencamera/free.asp
Or the paid version here:
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/screencamera/
Regards,
Alex Ferri
PCWinSoft Systems Ltd
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/