Video-chatting (or video-conferencing) has existed for quite a few years now as a common visual-communication method that can be easily performed over the Internet for staying in touch with family members, friends, or even co-workers. While the technology behind video calls has already been around for a few decades, only during the last 10~15 years have people really started resorting to online video calls has a better and more reliable form of communicating with others in comparison to texting or emailing them. Now, it’s no secret that voice-and-video-communication programs like Skype (or even Microsoft Teams or Zoom) helped making online video-chats more popular. Nevertheless, it was mainly with the unexpected start of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic that many companies and families worldwide started recurring to online video-calls as a solution for staying connected with others. And while video-chatting can be a convenient way for people to stay in touch, the fact that most PC and laptop webcams are designed to be integrated at the top-edge of a computer’s screen ultimately forces people to look up to their webcam rather than looking down to the center of their computer’s screen where the video of the other people they’re talking to is displayed. To fix this long-lasting dilemma, the Center Cam was invented.
The Center Cam is a tiny adjustable middle-screen webcam powered by eye-to-eye HD camera technology that’s designed to operate in the middle of your screen, featuring a high-end f2.1, 6mm lens that can record HD Video in 1080p at 30 FPS and in a 65º HFOV Aspect Ratio, along with USB 2.0 Connectivity and compatibility with Windows, MacOS, Linux and Android.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CENTER CAM
Now, it’s important to mention that this is the world’s very first middle-screen webcam to be available on the market. In fact, the Center Cam was invented by a student called Ian Foster, who was finishing his Master’s internship as a social work counselor when COVID-19 hit. Essentially, the Center Cam was invented as a big necessity that aimed to finally fix that said long-lasting dilemma of looking away from the the person (or people) you would want to talk to in a video-chat.
As Ian was coming up with the idea of the Center Cam, he obviously needed more funds to further develop his idea and ultimately bring it to life. As such, Ian started a Crowdfunding Campaign on Indiegogo for the Center Cam, which quickly became one of the top 5 most-successful Indiegogo campaigns of 2021, which eventually raised over $2.2M to date.
Unlike most PC and laptop webcams which either force you to choose between looking at other users in a video-call or to your webcam so that they see you looking at them, the Center Cam does not compromise your focal-awareness (i.e. your focal-attention), as it allows you to efficiently (and very conveniently) do both things simultaneously and without sacrificing your visual-focus.
Thanks to its innovative design, the Center Cam ultimately delivers a better human connection when you’re looking to participate in video-chats / video-conferences with others.
Now, let’s have a more detailed look at the Center Cam and check out exactly how this ultra-compact middle-screen webcam is designed to work.
DESIGN & SPECS
Note that for our review unit, we’ll be having a look at the company’s Standard Package. Starting with the webcam’s size, the Center Cam comes at a fairly compact size, with its little camera-unit measuring just 14mm (0.55 inches) in diameter by 48mm (1.88 inches) long.
Additionally, the device’s dedicated camera-lens also comes directly mounted into a flexible and fully-adjustable metallic flextube that first measures 1 ft. long (for its metallic part), while also integrating an additional 4 ft. of USB Cord (with a USB 2.0 Connector at the end).
Best of all, the Center Cam’s fully-adjustable metallic flextube also comes together with a standard Mounting Clip that can be easily and very neatly integrated onto it.
Note that the kit’s included standard Mounting Clip can be opened up to a maximum of 2-inches, which is more than enough to allow users to set-up the Center Cam onto many models of computer monitors, not only including all laptops, but also several different computer monitors.
Thanks to its innovative design, this tiny adjustable middle-screen webcam can be set-up right at the center of your computer’s (or laptop’s) screen, which ultimately allows you to look at the video of the people your video-chatting while simultaneously looking at the Center Cam’s dedicate camera-lens.
Finally, and as said before, note that this sleek middle-screen webcam is powered by a unique eye-to-eye HD camera technology.
So, when it comes to the Center Cam’s dedicated camera-lense, know that its whole camera-unit basically consists of a high-end camera lens with a f2.1, 6mm aperture that can record HD Video in a 1080p resolution and at 30 FPS, all in a 65º Horizontal-FOV (Field-of-View) Aspect Ratio.
Last but not least, know that the Center Cam also comes together with an included Lens-Privacy Cover that can be used to cover its dedicated camera-lense whenever you’re not using the device.
CONNECTIVITY & COMPATIBILITY
As said before, the Center Cam’s fully-adjustable metallic flextube comes integrated with a USB Cord and a USB 2.0 Connector at the end.
That essentially gives this adjustable middle-screen webcam compatibility with Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Nevertheless, each kit also comes with an included USB 2.0 to USB-C Adapter that also gives the Center Cam a USB-C Connection Method, and ultimately, compatibility with Android devices.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Center Cam is a tiny adjustable middle-screen webcam powered by eye-to-eye HD camera technology that’s designed to operate in the middle of your screen, featuring a high-end f2.1, 6mm lens that can record HD Video in 1080p at 30 FPS and in a 65º HFOV Aspect Ratio, along with USB 2.0 Connectivity and compatibility with Windows, MacOS, Linux and Android.
Not only is the Center Cam easy to set-up, but it also extremely convenient to use for any of your video-calls.
All in all, this adjustable middle-screen webcam ultimately allows users to have a much better human connection with others while video-chatting / video-conferencing with other people, whether that’s family members, friends, or even co-workers.
If you’re interested in buying it, know that each set / kit is currently going for just $115. You can order yours online right now, directly from Center Cam’s official shopping page. Note that Drop-Shipping for any online orders will start from mid-June 2022 and onward.
