Can You Hook Up a Webcam to an iPad?

For video calls with clients and colleagues, the iPad makes sense: It's lightweight, fast and simple to operate on the go. In most cases, external USB webcams cannot be connected to the iPad -- the functionality isn't supported by the device's architecture -- but the tablet does offer both front-facing and rear-facing cameras that can be used as integrated webcams with a variety of apps. A small number of wireless webcams, including the Logitech Broadcaster, can be used with the webcam via the appropriate app.

Power up your iPad and launch the video calling app of your choice. Available apps include Apple's own FaceTime, which comes with iOS, and third-party tools such as Google Hangouts and Skype.

Select the contact you wish to call from within the app and launch the video functionality. The video connection is established and the iPad automatically makes the front-facing camera available as a webcam.

Tap the camera switch icon (usually a camera contained within an arrow) to switch to the back-facing camera instead. This option is not available in all video calling apps, but enables you to focus attention on what's in front of you rather than your face.

End the call and disable the internal cameras by tapping on the hang up or end call icon (typically a red handset symbol). The video feed is then disabled and the iPad's cameras are available to use by other applications.