Is this possible? Set up a computer camera to act as a security camera?

[MaDHaVoK]

I'd like to know if I could buy a camera for my computer, have it in my apartment window watching my car... and save the video for the last 24 hours?

What be the best way to do this?

 

[DougK62]

Just grab one of those cheap round PC camera/video things. Point it out the window and voila - just make sure you have the HDD space. At school the fella that runs our CSCI lab has one pointing at the door so he can watch who comes and goes from his office.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

A program called EYECU has motion detection algorithms. It's good for logging who enters + exits an area. Use a webcam, and eyecu, and you have a motion activated timelapse still camera

 

[vegetation]

PC web cams only work well for in-room relatively closeup shots. Resolution is really bad from a distance, not sure you'll see anything other than a red dot depicting the person who stole your car! Get a real optical video cam, like an old vhs video camera with a broken tape mechanism (cheap). Use a TV tuner card or some equivalent capture card as the input device. Works much better for distant shots.

 

[Pooteh]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n1
A program called EYECU has motion detection algorithms. It's good for logging who enters + exits an area. Use a webcam, and eyecu, and you have a motion activated timelapse still camera

kewl, that is totally the program i need🙂 after all, why take pics of nothing happening🙂

i've always wanted to figure out how much thrashing i do in my sleep🙂

now if i could only record my tooth grinding😛

 

[MaDHaVoK]

Is there a good pc camera meant for night or for distance?

 

[BD2003]

I use one for monitoring my dorm room over the weekends when I leave. Pretty easy to set up, but I havent found the perfect program yet. Which ones do you guys use?

 

[SaltBoy]

Those X10 cams look good if you want to be a voyeur...

 

[Zwingle]

Coffee Cup software is awesome for this, you can set it to watch for motion and then hilight the area you want to watch, so it wont watch the whole area the cam sees....check it out CoffeeCupWebCam

 

[RobSan]

We had a problem at work with someone from the night cleaning crew using one of the computers that needs to stay on 24/7 to visit hardcore porn sites. We hid a web cam inside an old electric pencil sharpener, put it on the shelf over/behind the monitor, and using motion detecting software, we had our night time porn fan. He is no longer with us, and the lady who's computer he was using, is a lot happier when she comes to work.

 

[Fritzo]

If you need higher resolution or better low light performance, an old camcorder and a TV card are great! I have a ten year old Sony Handycam 8mm with a 10x optical zoom and 1 lux that I have hooked up to my Hauppauge TV card and you're able to make out the tiniest of details----it's a very good solution if you have access to the equipment.

 

[BigPotato]

gottta set oneo fthese up for work too....
🙁

 

[Pooteh]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
If you need higher resolution or better low light performance, an old camcorder and a TV card are great! I have a ten year old Sony Handycam 8mm with a 10x optical zoom and 1 lux that I have hooked up to my Hauppauge TV card and you're able to make out the tiniest of details----it's a very good solution if you have access to the equipment.

sweet idea🙂 i bet 10 year old camcorders can be had for almost nothing used🙂 don't need actual tape recording functionality either🙂

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: Pooteh

Originally posted by: Fritzo
If you need higher resolution or better low light performance, an old camcorder and a TV card are great! I have a ten year old Sony Handycam 8mm with a 10x optical zoom and 1 lux that I have hooked up to my Hauppauge TV card and you're able to make out the tiniest of details----it's a very good solution if you have access to the equipment.

sweet idea🙂 i bet 10 year old camcorders can be had for almost nothing used🙂 don't need actual tape recording functionality either🙂

avoid old ones,