How does the external camera work?
SMOWL uses two cameras: the front camera of your computer and the external camera (second camera) of a phone or tablet that can read QR codes. You do not need to install any app on the external device.
During the test, SMOWL generates a report with the supervision results and delivers it to your academic contact.
Browser requirement for the external camera. Although you do not have to install anything, you must open the link in a supported browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you use an iPhone or an iPad, Safari is not supported. Scan or open the QR code with Chrome.
How to connect and place the external camera in 4 steps
Follow these four steps before you start your activity. Each image shows you how it should look.
Step 1. Connect the camera with the QR code
Scan the QR code on the instructions page with your phone or tablet and open it in Chrome or Edge. You do not need to install any app.
Step 2. Put the device in landscape mode
Place the phone or tablet in landscape mode. First, turn on screen rotation on your device and allow camera access in your browser.
Step 3. Set the height and distance
Place it on one side of your desk, on the right or on the left. Put it about 30 cm above the desk and about 60 cm from the computer, and never more than 1.5 metres away. Tilt it slightly towards the computer to capture the whole surface, on both sides.
Measure | Value |
Height above the desk | About 30 cm |
Distance to the computer | About 60 cm |
Maximum distance | 1.5 metres |
Step 4. Check what the camera sees
For supervision with an external camera to be valid, the image must show:
Part of your face.
Your work desk surface, with no forbidden items such as phones, tablets or headphones.
Your computer screen. Ask your institution if you can use more than one screen.
Where not to place the camera
Do not place the camera behind you, in front of you, or at or below desk height.
Before you start: requirements and permissions
You need two cameras: a front camera on your computer, built in or connected by USB, and an external camera. The external camera is a phone or tablet with a camera and an internet connection, not connected to the computer.
Front camera
Use your computer's built-in camera or one connected by USB. It must point straight at your face, which must appear centred and well lit.
External camera
Before you scan the QR code, check these points:
The device has enough battery, or it is plugged into the charger during the whole activity.
The screen can rotate and the device is in landscape mode.
If an incorrect verification message appears, do not start the activity. Refresh the page to try the verification again.
Then click “Accept” and scan the QR code.
Camera permissions on your phone or tablet
If your institution asks you to use an external camera, check the browser permissions on your device. Scan the QR code on the instructions page to link its camera with the supervision of your activity.
Remember: put the device in landscape mode, turn on screen rotation and allow camera access in your browser.
Prevent the screen from locking
On Android: go to Settings > Display > Screen timeout and choose an option that keeps the screen on for as long as you need. [†]
On iPhone: go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a period. [†]
Turn on screen rotation
On Android:
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel.
Find the auto-rotate icon and tap it to turn it on.
If you cannot see it, go to Settings > Display (or Display & brightness) and turn on auto-rotate. [†]
On iPhone:
Open Control Centre. On iPhone X and later models, swipe down from the top-right corner. On earlier models, swipe up from the bottom edge.
Find the orientation lock icon, which looks like a padlock with a circular arrow.
Tap it to turn the lock off. The screen can then rotate automatically.
If you use a Mac and an iPhone: Continuity Camera
If you use a Mac and have an iPhone, the system may detect more cameras than you have connected. This is caused by an Apple feature called Continuity Camera. When the iPhone is near the Mac and both share the same iCloud account, the Mac recognises it as a wireless camera. SMOWL can detect it twice: as the front camera of the iPhone and as the external camera.
Before you start your activity, choose one of these two options:
Option A (recommended): turn off Continuity Camera. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity and turn off Continuity Camera. The Mac will then not use the phone as a camera automatically. [†]
Option B: choose the camera manually. If you keep the feature on, select the “FaceTime HD” camera as the front camera in the SMOWL verification step and leave the iPhone only for the external capture.
This behaviour comes from the Apple integration and is not a SMOWL error: the system detects all the hardware that the Mac offers it.
If something goes wrong
Find your case and follow the solution.
What is happening | What to do |
I see “External camera not connected” when I enter the exam [†] | Your exam needs a second camera. The self-check test only checks the computer camera. Scan the QR code with your phone or tablet, reload the exam page and scan again if the error continues. |
I cannot scan the QR code | If you see the NOT_SUPPORTED_BROWSER error, open the QR link in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, also on your phone. Safari is not supported. |
My phone does not let me install Chrome or Edge | Contact your institution. It will tell you another option for your exam. |
The phone camera does not turn on | Check the browser camera permissions in Settings and scan the QR code again. |
The phone screen turns off | Turn off the screen auto-lock in Settings. |
The image appears in portrait | Turn on screen rotation and put the device in landscape mode. |
The camera does not show everything needed | Check that part of your face, your desk and your screen are visible. Adjust the height and distance. |
I use a Mac and my iPhone connects as a camera | Follow the Continuity Camera instructions above. |
Enviro Scan: initial 360° scan of your environment (optional)
Enviro Scan is an optional feature that your institution can turn on. It adds a check of the physical space where you take the assessment, to make sure the conditions of the environment are suitable.
If your institution has turned it on, SMOWL will ask you to record a video of your environment when you scan the QR code of the external camera. Follow these steps:
Step 1. Scan the QR code
Scan the code and open the link in Chrome or Edge. On iPhone and iPad, Safari is not supported.
Step 2. Put the device in landscape mode
Turn the phone to landscape. If the screen does not rotate, turn on screen rotation.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions
Read the two instruction screens: Environment scan and How to scan the environment [†]. They explain that the scan lasts 30 seconds at most, how to move the phone and what must be visible.
Step 4. Record your study space
Press record and turn slowly to show your whole study space. You have 30 seconds at most.
Step 5. Save the video and continue
When the scan ends, save the video. If something went wrong, you can record it again. Then click “Finish and continue” [†].
Do you have more questions? Read our related articles or contact our support team through the chat. You can open it by clicking the bubble in the bottom-right corner of this page.