I downloaded Ubuntu a few weeks ago, and my childhood of computer fascination was miraculously resurrected. My programming experience left off in 1988.
So far, I have looked at intro's and tutorials of a dozen languages. I tried to install webcam-server from Ubuntu Software center and from sourceforge. Not found errors for everyone. I have Kamerka and Camorama faithfully generating .png's whenever I touch the GUI button. I lack the knowledge to script one of these capture devices, or even to read pixels out of the PNG. I failed to install python image library, (failed first self test: read a JPG. What I would actually like to do is skim information from the hardware stream rather than saving to disk and then reading it.
Also, I know this is overasked, but the answer is personal. What languages should I be learning? Have type-followed tutorials for Python, Perl, Lua, Logo(my favorite so far.) It seems that Multiple Paradigm Support really clutters a language, and as a solitary hobbyist, I'm afraid of losing interest in a project before learning to do it. Perhaps I should focus on scripting within popular software such as the GIMP. This is my first post on a forum of any kind, so my optimism is hanging on your answer.

Wow, this really is overasked. I suggest you read on digital image processing if you are going to use the webcam as a sensor or something like that. Python might be a good find for programming with a webcam (or maybe any conceived hardware), so I also suggest you keep playing with it for now.