PresentationPoint releases a new PowerPoint add-on called VideoPoint.  It is the first add-on to display live output from webcams and IP cameras on your PowerPoint slide show.

Why would you like to display camera output to your slides, you might ask.

Output from a local connected webcam is great to address customers directly, like a mirror, with an individual message. Or you can display remote CCTV images from an IP address on your slides.

It is easy to add one or multiple cams to a slide. But more important to use cameras on your slides, is that you have other space on your slides for your messages, like a text for a product or promotion, or instructions in case of a theft in your shop.

Installation

Get a trial version of VideoPoint and run the setup on your computer. A new menu item called VideoPoint is added to your PowerPoint ribbon. This VideoPoint add-on is an extension to your normal PowerPoint functionality. Click the VideoPoint menu item to open the properties and buttons.

videopoint menu in powerpoint ribbon
First of all, you start by inserting a shape that will host the output of the camera. Click Insert button and a green picture shape will be inserted on your slide.
insert a shape on your slide for cam output
Then set the source of the camera. Basically there are 3 options to choose from.

  • Nothing for no camera output
  • Video Input Device for a camera or typically a webcam device that is connected to this computer
  • IP Camera for a camera that is connected to your network

Typically, an IP camera is a security camera in your shop or a CCTV camera that you can connect to. These devices are connected to your network and are not connected directly to your computer. You will have to use an IP address or name to address these cameras.

select cam source

Video Input Device or Webcams on your slide

Set to source to Video Input Device and then see that properties that become enabled. You can choose from the various lists, like the device, format and frame rate of the video input device or webcam. For the audio, you can choose again the device, line and format.

webcam properties; device, framerate, size
When you run this slide show now, the VideoPoint add-on will display the output of the chosen video input device and the audio device on your dedicated VideoPoint shape or control.
powerpoint slide with live webcam output

IP camera on your slide

Back to the Source option. Set it to IP Camera. With this source or device, you can only set the URL. The URL is typically a name or IP address with some parameters. For the correct syntax of the URL, you have to check out the documentation of the IP camera itself. There are hundreds of brands and models out there, with their specific settings.

A possible value for the camera that we are using here, could be:

http://10.36.65.201/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1&resolution=320×240&compression=25

or when it is secured:

http://username:password@10.36.65.201/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1&resolution=320×240&compression=25

url for ip camera
Again here, when you run the slide show, VideoPoint will fill the shape with the output of the specified IP camera or URL.
live ip camera output on your powerpoint slideshow

Text and Image Overlays

You can put a text over the webcam or camera output, to for example, identify the camera. Click the Text Overlay button.

Check the Use text overlay option and enter the text. You can change the position of the text on the camera output, by changing the left and top properties. And you can use the scroll bar to change the transparency of the text on the image.

text overlay on cam output
Next to a text overlay, you can choose to use an image overlay on top of your camera output, like for example an icon. Click the Picture Overlay button.

Check the Use image overlay option and click Browse to browse for the image on your computer.  You can change the position of the logo on the camera output, by changing the left and top properties. You can also use the scroll bar to change the transparency of the icon on top of the camera output.

image or logo overlay settings for cam on slide
videopoint introduction movie and samples

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