A web camera is one that allows you to stream yourself onto the Internet so someone that you're chatting with can see you. As they become cheaper to make, more monitors and laptop screens are coming with them built in; however, you can buy an inexpensive web camera that you can put on top of your monitor for around $50. Using one isn't difficult once you've got it set up. 

For the most part, set up of the web camera requires installation of software and plugging it in. Most web cams come with a USB cable which is where it gets its power from and sends the video through. Therefore, plug it in and then insert the CD. Follow the direction presented to you to get the web cam installed. Once it's done, it might prompt you to restart, but it usually doesn't.

To use the web cam, you need a piece of software that acts as the middle man between two people. For example, Skype is well known for its web conferences which allows you to have multiple people chatting with cameras on in one room. But, you can chat with web cam on AIM and Yahoo to name just a few. But, for the highest quality, install Skype because it specializes in web cam.

Once you've installed your program of choice, you need to connect the web cam to it. What this means is that the program tests to see if the web cam is working properly and, more importantly, if it will work with the program. Usually they work, but what you're going to do is run the test and see if you can see yourself. If you pop up and when you move, the camera recognizes it, you've installed it properly and you can use it for your chat. Install a microphone while you're at it–some web cams have them built in–because it'll make chatting more enjoyable.

If you're not looking to chat, but instead want to use it to take a couple of pictures of yourself while sitting at the computer, open the web cam software. When the camera starts to run, hit the "take picture" button. It might be a different name on a different web cam, but it'll give you the option to take a still. Then, you can save it as a .jpg and use it how you would any other picture.

If you want to stop using the web cam and put it away, go down and "stop" the hardware from running. Then, unplug it and put it away. If the web cam comes with a shield over the lens, be sure to put that back on. You don't want the lens to get scratched. That'll reduce the quality of the picture.