In an effort to join other family members in their recent discovery of Skype‘s free video-conferencing features, I purchased a Logitech Quickcam Orbit MP webcam ($129 – Best Buy).
It’s definitely more expensive than the average $40 webcam that most will use, but I came across a video demonstration of the face-tracking features being used to amusing effect.
I’ve had cheap $30 webcams before and their poor video quality and small angle of view annoyed me enough that the Orbit MP’s 1.3 megapixel, 30 fps video capture ability interested me greatly. The face-tracking feature is also nice for someone like myself who tends to move around often during a conversation. The camera’s software recognizes facial features and will rotate the camera through a full 189° horizontal arc and 102° vertically.