OT : Webcams as Security Cams.... ?

So there appears to be a huge amount of claptrap returned by google.

What I is after is something that can serve pictures and activates
when something moves in front of it when attached to a PC.

I have a basic webcam, just after the software, free of course.

Cheerz - Brownz

 

You could just have it capture a webcam shot every, say, 20 seconds and
store the picture in a folder. Shouldn't be too difficult using the human
eye to scan through thumbnails to spot when something changes in the images
And disk space is incredibly cheap these days so a few thousand webcam
images isn't going to make much of a dent.

A simple script could probably do that. Image based movement detection can
be complicated and might be a bit unreliable too.

I'd recommend looking at freshmeat.net, loads of free software on there for
just about everything.

 

<Derek Turner>

fswebcam for time based capture or motion for motion detected capture.

</D T> <rummages> Ah-ha. fswebcam setup below.

<http://prawnuk.blogspot.com/2009/03/acer-crystal-eye-image-capture.html>

To re-enforce the other point, there must be gazzilions of simple
applications that do this.

 

The first hit for "webcam motion detection freeware" returns:
http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/webcam-motion-detection-software.htm
which seems quite sensible. HTH.

 

Yes, there's lots out there that look sensible, but I was after
something that someone knows, loves and trusts, rather than the first
google hit.

Ta Prawn !

 

Un-Ta Prawn.... OK, should have specified - Windows OS, not some pikey
freeware geek OS that replaces a mouse click with a paragraph of line
commands ;-)

 

heh. Were the <Derek Turner> tags in prawn's post not a clear enough
clue for you? )

 

Windows OS > Vmware (free) > Ubuntu (free) > fswebcam (free)

If you don't like CLI then use right click copy, right click paste using
the mouse.

All boxes ticked.

Job done.

Bish bash bosh.

 

Sheesh. Kids today, eh?

 

Maybe he's after decent Windows freeware...

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Jim

Oh look, a Linux junkie talking bollocks.

How unusual.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Jim

I don't, I've never had the need for any so I've never looked. But to
say that most free Windows software is "spyware infested shareware crap"
is bollocks.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

He's definitely wrong about the spyware infestation but he's spot on
with the rest of his assessment.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Jim

Do you know, I think that's really probably true.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Active Webcam is fucking excellent for that, and doesn't cost a lot,
about 25quid. There are other free ones, of course.