Portage Computer Users Group

PCUG And The 50th Anniversay Of The Portage District Library September 26, 2013

Folks,

On September 28th, the Portage District Library will be celebrating its’ 50th anniversary. Click here for more information: http://host4.evanced.info/portage/evanced/eventcalendar.asp .

The Portage Computer Users Group will be participating from 10 AM until 2 PM. You can find us at a table near the main entrance of the library.

We will be demonstrating the WebcamMax, http://www.webcammax.com , software that uses a Computer Camera and puts various hats, glasses and hair on the image. For us it is a demonstration that is aimed at children, but should be fun for everyone.  We can email an image to the parents and hope to be able to make photo prints at a nominal charge.

I have been aware of the software for a long time, but recently tested the software to see if it was appropriate for our use.

I checked out the free trial version.  It has a logo for Webcam Max at the top of the images.  For the final files or prints this can be cropped out.  The price of the full version of the software is reasonable as it is frequently discounted.  Currently it is $24.95 for a lifetime license.  As we plan to have two set-ups running for this morning and no budget we will have to go with the free version unless we qualify for a free license.  And that is why I am writing this review.

The program superimposes multiple objects that you choose from many categories.   It does it with facial recognition.  It does a pretty good job on humans, but gets lost with fast movement.  It did a very poor (non existent) job on my cat (grin).

Our target on Saturday will be many young children.  I am looking forward to how they warm up to it.  Will they take to it and play for a long time or get spooked by their altered selves in the computer monitor.

I did a demonstration to the Portage Computer Users Club, www.pcugmi.org  two weeks ago.  I am not the best model, but I didn’t have a young volunteer available.  I demonstrated the Pirate Hat, the heavy eyebrows, police hat, and mustache.  The feedback I got back was along the lines of “will you have something aimed at little girls like necklaces and princess crowns?”  I checked the free version later and there are not many, but there are many downloads available to explore for the paid version.  Perhaps the library’s fast internet connection will let us get some of those.

I hope you will able to join us for a few minutes on Saturday.

Cheers,

Rob