Is this possible with PHP? PHP and <forms> controlling devices????

[iwanabe007]

Can I use PHP to operate, for example, a camcorder thru a properly-configured server?  (or any other type of remote device hooked up to the server?)

 

For example, let's say I have this form

 

<form action="whatever.php" method="post">

<input type="button/submit" value="Record" name="submit">

</form>

 

...then write some type of PHP function that, when submitted, causes the form to tell the server to have the camcorder record? Or would it be better to create some type of CGI to do it?

 

Thanks, all...this is for a project I'm working on and I really have no idea where to go with it!  Any help would be REALLY appreciated!