32.1 webcam configure

20210521

The configuration will not only ensure the required support software is installed but will also create the dummy webcam video.

$ ml configure webcam

*** The following required system packages are already installed:
  v4l2loopback-utils

*** The following required system packages are already installed:
  python3-opencv

*** The following required pip packages are already installed:
  pyfakewebcam

*** Downloading required files ...

    * https://.../No%2Btransmission.jpg
      using cached copy found in /home/kayon/.mlhub/webcam/notrans.jpg ...

Configuring using '/home/kayon/.mlhub/webcam/configure.sh'...

Create a Dummy webcam (requires admin access).
[sudo] password for kayon: 

To view the model's README:

  $ ml readme webcam

The package assumes the real webcam is /dev/video0 and the dummy webcam is /dev/video4. The lowest numbered integrated camera is taken as the existing webcam and the highest numbered dummy video is taken as the default new webcam.

To identify the webcam devices, including the newly created dummy device:

$ v4l2-ctl --list-devices

Dummy video device (0x0000) (platform:v4l2loopback-000):
    /dev/video4

Integrated Camera: Integrated C (usb-0000:00:14.0-8):
    /dev/video0
    /dev/video1
    /dev/video2
    /dev/video3

To test the package before you use it for Zoom, view the video signal locally by running the following after you have started up the gui, for example.

$ vlc v4l2:///dev/video4

Some useful commands include:

$ v4l2-ctl --list-devices               # List video devices.
$ sudo modprobe v4l2loopback devices=1  # Create dummy device.
$ vlc v4l2:///dev/video4                # View video signal.
$ sudo rmmode v4l2loopback              # Remove the dummy device.

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