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The video camera has taken its time going from hulking and expensive to small and affordable.

Unlike still cameras, which, even going back to the days of film have always offered budget-conscious consumers simple and cheap point-and-shoot alternatives, anyone wanting to record the kids' T-ball game or the family vacation has had to dish out a pretty penny.

But that's changing.

Video fans no longer need a shoulder bag, extra blank tapes and a watchful eye to ensure the kids keep their hands off their prized possession. Manufacturers have recently started unveiling pocket-sized video cameras that are simple enough for a child to use and inexpensive enough for mom and dad to let a child use.

What's interesting about the emerging genre, though, is manufacturers have sacrificed video quality for simplicity — a paradox you don't expect to see in the life arc of a technology.

Pocket-sized video cams such as Pure Digital's Flip Video Ultra, Creative's Vado and RCA's Small Wonder EZ200 aren't meant to give you the best quality images, but they are convenient to use just about anywhere and everywhere.

Each device contains a flash drive — no tapes, CDs or DVDs necessary — and can connect and deliver video to computers, TVs or directly to online video-sharing sites (via a PC). They're all single-purpose gadgets in that all they do is shoot standard video (VGA resolution of 640x480), so don't expect to record HD footage with low-light options and hours of record time. (But hey, that's kinda nice in today's this-thing-can-do-everything world).

All that means is they appeal equally to the tech savvy and the tech ignorant.

For the former, the devices let you upload clips to YouTube (each also has their own partner sites such as Box.net, Photobucket and AOL Video) that are already optimized for the site. For the latter, the simple cams have only a few clearly marked buttons that make recording, play back and transferring or uploading very straight forward.

And, they're rather eye-catching. With prices ranging from $100 to $160, it's not hard to image the next family picnic might be covered from several different angles.