A method and system for providing video data to a user on a computer is
provided. According to the method and system, a video streaming device
attached to the computer provides a video stream that is displayed on the
computer. Images that were previously captured with the video streaming
device, either from the current video stream or from previous video
streams, are displayed to the user along with the current video stream.
This gives the user the impression that the device has captured image
storage when, in fact, the previously captured images are actually stored
elsewhere, such as on the computer's hard disk. The stored images are
accessible by the computer, and placed in virtual folders while being
displayed. A user interface shows the current video stream in a video
display area and the previously captured images in a captured image
display area. The user interface may be invoked when the user double
clicks on an icon that represents the video streaming device. This gives
the user the impression that he has browsed to the device and is viewing
its contents.