First Webcam Was Invented to Monitor a Coffee Pot

In 1991, computer scientists at Cambridge University developed the world's first webcam, initially named XCoffee, to monitor a coffee pot in their lab. Frustrated by frequent empty pots, they used a grayscale camera and custom software to check its status from their desks. This system was later connected to the internet by other researchers, effectively creating the first true webcam. The Trojan Room coffee pot gained significant attention and continued broadcasting until 2001, when it was sold on eBay, marking the end of a quirky yet revolutionary camera system that paved the way for today's livestreaming technology.