cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/121053
The problem with that is a USB device is powered even if it’s not being used. You can’t communicate with it to identify it as a webcam without powering it. So the light will be on any time it’s plugged in.
The camera module itself can be powered off if properly designed and the led should be powered from the same source.
Yeah, but that’s additional design complexity, and most consumers, given the choice, would pick the cheaper option.
It’s more complex and expensive to have it controlled by software though.
Hardware controlled would be the equivalence of using a splitter to add a second lamp on an outlet attached to a light switch. (would only require a change in a trace or two and a transistor/resistor or two.)
Software controlled is the equivalence having to buy smart outlets and programming them yourself to have the two lamps turn on at the same time. (requires the same as a hardware switch, plus a more expensive or even an extra controller chip along with the need to write and program it.)
