simple web cam questions

[Jeff Lacki]

Hello-

I want to find one or more web cameras to hook up to my PC x86
running RH 9.0 and acquire pictures or video streams.  My goal is
to write some software to acquire video and send it or store it
locally etc.

1.  Do I need a TV/Video card?

2.  Is/Are there already programs that come with Linux to acquire/detect
    webcam's etc?  Drivers?

3.  Any advice/recommendations for cams/software from your experiences?

Thanks in advance,
Jeff