The first webcam was created at Cambridge University in 1991 to monitor a coffee pot so researchers could avoid trips to an empty pot.
Notes on verification
Direct documentation from Cambridge Computer Laboratory and widely reported in tech history [2026-08-28 re-verified orphan: promoted with 5 independent source(s)] [2026-08-29 audit re-verified: 6 independent source(s)]
Sources
- https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=1507 (reverify-primary)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Room_coffee_pot (corroboration)
- https://medium.com/knowledge-stew/the-worlds-first-webcam-0c65d22ce89d (corroboration)
- https://www.techspot.com/trivia/103-first-ever-webcam-used-cambridge-university-but-what/ (corroboration)
- https://www.theregister.com/2001/03/07/worlds_first_webcam_coffee_pot/ (corroboration)
- https://www.openculture.com/2021/09/the-very-first-webcam-was-invented-to-keep-an-eye-on-a-coffee-pot-at-cambridge-university.html (audit-corroboration)
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/hardware-and-devices/the-world-s-first-webcam-was-set-up-in-1991-just-to-watch-a-coffee-pot/ar-AA25zT4Z (audit-corroboration)