[ubicomp]

One of the earliest webcams is still around at MIT Media Lab! When I was there, I would use it to give away free food. It's installed in a corner of the lab facing down so you can place free objects under it. I would place free food under the webcam and press the broadcast button. It would send an image to various IRC channels and other subscribers. Within minutes, hungry lab folks would rush in to grab the food. Probably my favorite memory of being at the lab.

[will_walker]

When I was there, there was a slack channel rebroadcasting the webcam feed providing desktop & mobile notifications. Based on the quality of the food in the feed, you could conjecture that funders were visiting for a meal, or when director-level staff meetings were occuring.

[hoseja]

Webcam feed.

[liamwire]

I remember reading about this maybe a few years ago, and it’s such a brilliant use.