title: How can I analyze live data from webcam?
body: <p>I am going to be working on self-chosen project for my college networking class and I just had a couple questions to help get me started in the right direction.</p>
  
  <p>My project will involve creating a new "physical" link over which data, in the form of text, will be transmitted from one computer to another.  This link will involve one computer with a webcam that reads a series of flashing colors (black/white) as binary and converts it to text.  Each series of flashes will simulate a packet of data.  I will be using OSX an the integrated webcam in a Macbook,  the flashing computer will either be windows or osx.</p>
  
  <p>So my questions are: which programming languages or API's would be best for reading live webcam data and analyzing the color of a certain area as well as programming and timing the flashes?  Also, would I need to worry about matching the flash rate of the "writing" computer and the frame capture rate of the "reading" computer?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.</p>