Logitech's QuickCam Orbit webcam was named one of this year's top 100 tech innovations, receiving Popular Science Magazine's 2004 Best of What's New award in the Computing category.
With a design that is dramatically different from typical webcams, the highly stylized QuickCam Orbit webcam changes how people participate in video communications over the Internet, making it much more natural. A motorized camera head combined with face tracking software allows the camera lens to follow its subject -- up and down, or left and right -- as that person shifts in a chair or moves freely about the room. The webcam also features a 9-inch stand, so the camera can be at eye level, whether on a desk or resting on top of a monitor.
"Best of What's New is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, representing a year's worth of work evaluating thousands of products," said Popular Science Editor Mark Jannot. "These awards honor innovations that not only impact the way we live today, but change the way we think about the future."
The QuickCam Orbit webcam has a range of 128 degrees side-to-side for an almost 180-degree horizontal view, and 54 degrees up-and-down for an almost 90-degree vertical view; it can automatically follow a person, zooming in or out as the person moves about a room, or it can be manually controlled through the software.
"QuickCam Orbit was a bold introduction that we feel changes the way people think about -- and use -- their webcams," said Junien Labrousse of Logitech. "To receive this prestigious acclaim from Popular Science is a tremendous honor -- it certainly validates our belief that innovation is the key to leading the market forward."
Popular Science reviews thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year.
Logitech designs, manufactures, and markets digital personal peripherals.