Show an iPod/iPad Screen: New $69 USB Camera
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 3:56PM 
Unless you're willing to jailbreak your device or you're Steve Jobs, there's not a way to directly pipe your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad's screen into a computer or projector. Teachers who use these devices with students would love to have this feature. Direct video from a handheld or slate allows for crisp, crystal-clear, and glare-free video of the the device. This could be projected on the wall so the whole class can see what's on the small device.
You might think that since Apple sells video cables and iPad VGA adapters that these would be good solutions for enlarging an Apple device's screen. Unfortunately, these adapters do not project everything you see on the screen--they are designed to only show photos and movies. In the case of iPad, apps must be programmed to output to the VGA adapter (and almost all are not), and the VGA adapter won't show the Home screen.
If you've got a document camera in your classroom, you're pretty good to go. Cameras from AVerMedia, Elmo, and Epson are popular, and they connect directly to a projector to show live video of what's under the lens. Unfortunately, document cameras can also be pricey. Some teachers have found less expensive USB web cams that do an acceptable job of showing a device's screen.
I've been on the hunt for a good portable USB camera. That's because I need it to travel with me, and the video needs to be directed through my computer so I don't have to switch video connections when toggling between my slideshow and the camera. In the past I've used an iSight Camera mounted on a flexible stand. Today the iSight is no longer available. I've recently been using using a Hue HD Webcam. I got it on sale for $30, but the problem is that the stand falls over when pointed down like a document camera.
Thanks to a suggestion I heard on the Bit by Bit podcast, I am now using the IPEVO Point 2 View USB Camera. It's $69 and gives a better picture than my cheaper Hue HD Webcam. Point 2 View is designed to be used like a document camera, so the base is weighted down. Point 2 View adjusts height and position using a multi-jointed stand instead of a flexible stand so it doesn't wobble.
Point 2 View comes with P2V software for Macintosh and Windows. This software lets you view the camera's feed in a window or you can go full screen. It also has a variety of adjustments if you want to try to improve the picture.
The camera has a one-touch focus button. I really like that it has two auto-focus modes. There's Continuous and Single. I keep mine on Single so that I can set it to focus on my iPod touch, and it doesn't change--even when my hand is in front of the iPod. Speaking of focus, this camera does a great job. Below is a screen capture to show you how clear the image is. Video from Point 2 View is better than other USB camera I've used.
When using a camera to show an iPod, iPhone, or iPad, I've found it looks best to turn the brightness setting on the device to about 20%. Be sure to turn off Auto-Brightness (in Settings app > Brightness) and adjust Auto-Lock (in Settings app > General) to 5 minutes or higher so the device doesn't keep dimming and turning off.
Of course, there are others uses in education for a USB camera like the IPEVO's Point 2 View. Check out IPEVO's Bring Your Curriculum to Life one-page PDF. Other resources for using document cameras include Teaching Tips from eMINTS and the Document Cameras in the Classroom handout.
Update May 13, 2011: After a year of using Point 2 View, the pin in the base has come loose and often falls out. I know others have also experienced this malfunction. Point 2 View's warranty is for one year, so the IPEVO will not replace my base. The company does not sell the base separately from the camera, so I have bought a whole new camera to replace the broken base. Though, I am not using Point 2 View nearly as much now that iPad 2 has video mirroring.
Reader Comments (14)
Thanks for the info Tony. I've been using the Hue for about a year now, but its nice to see an alternative. Since I got my iPhone I've been really looking at the educational apps, and I just shot a video about Number Line. Here is the posterous link to that video that I shot on the HUE. http://daleehrhart.posterous.com/
Thanks Tony! I was just in a school yesterday demo-ing the iPod Touch. I used their ELMO but it was TERRIBLE. I haven't found a document camera that has displayed the iPod very well (but I haven't tried that many different ones). I will have to check out this cam. Seems like a great deal! Thank you!
Hi Tony - looks a brilliant solution - one question - the image it sends to your desktop, does that then go out to a projector?
Jonathan,
Yes, Point 2 View's image goes to your desktop. So you connect your desktop to a projector and that gets the camera's image on a big screen. Point 2 View only has USB, so it won't output directly to a projector.
Hi,
I'm a guy from IPEVO Taiwan headquarter.
We just attended TechED 2010 in Pasadena CA and shared lot's of useful news with teachers. Here's IPEVO Blog (http://blog.ipevo.com/) for you to see some summarize of our findings of using our product P2V.
Ricky
I find the tools and insight you give on your website and podcasts to be interesting and extremely useful, especially for educators trying to make technological advancements in the classroom. Just wanted to let you know that all your hard work is appreciated. :)
Hi Tony,
This information you have here is so great! I was referred to your site by a good friend and colleague and appreciate you taking the time to show educators how to use the advances in technology in their classrooms.
Hi Tony. Any reason that a normal webcam can't be used to do pretty much exactly what you're doing here, with the addition of some kind of stand? I'm testing here with a Microsoft LifeCam HD, and I have it macro focusing on my hand as I type this - just 2cm from the camera. I've replicated the shot of the iPhone screen, and the camera has auto focus like the models you're using above. It doesn't have an optical zoom function... but apart from that have I missed something?
Leonard,
If you've got a document camera or web cam that works, then you don't need the Point 2 View Camera. I wrote this post for those that don't yet have a way to show a device's screen to a large group. It's certainly not the only solution out there. It just so happens to be the best one for the money I have come across. I like that it has a weighted stand so that it doesn't fall over when pointed down--most web cams I have used fall over.
I have used an ELMO for 4 years and have moved to a classroom without a document camera. I simply am unable to teach without it! Does this camera have these features: zoom-in and does it display what is on the computer screen?
I would not want to teach in a classroom without a document camera!
The P2V does not have a zoom button. To zoom in and out you simply lower and raise the camera. It's on a weighted base and it move up and down very easily. You can set it to continuously autocus, so when you move it, the image will stay in focus. The base is not all that tall, so if you need to show something large, I suggest placing the P2V on a stack of books to give it more height.
It does lack a light source, so if you are showing books or anything that doesn't glow like an iPod, then I suggest getting a small desktop that you can point down to illuminate what's under the camera.
The P2V is really a USB camera, so it needs to display through a computer. Then the computer's display can be sent out to a projector, showing what the camera sees.So you can easily hide or quite the P2V software on your computer and your computer's screen is still displayed on the projector screen.
Guys,
A parent dropped off an ipad today with an exciting periodic table app and third thing we did was put it under the document camera. But the ipad surface works like a mirror and we are seeing the doc camera and the ceiling reflected. We are going to dim the lights, but any other suggestions?
Now there's a case for the P2V cam. This will be great for me since I've been traveling with the box it came in. The box is bulky and starting to show signs of being lugged around the country.
http://www.ipevo.com/Carrying-Case-for-P2V-USB-Document-Cam_p_97.html
Hi Tony!
You may be interested in using the iPad 2 itself as a document camera. I've written an app just for that. It's name is Board Cam and it allows you to use the device as an enhanced document camera. In addition of projecting the video output with the iPad 2 video mirroring feature, you can stick labels, use pointers, draw, etc.
If you want to learn more about Board Cam, please visit:
https://sites.google.com/site/herrerasapps/the-apps/board-camera
or the iTunes site of the app at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/board-cam-live-exhibitions/id434217477?mt=8&ls=1
Regards:
Juan