How To Turn Thirty Dollar Web Camera Into Home Surveillance System

Web cameras are really inexpensive these days. With no technical knowledge, you can hook up one or several camerass to your PC and create own surveillance system, much like CCTV (closed curcuit television). But you'll need the right tools first.

Active WebCam

Active WebCam captures images up to 30 frames per second from any video device including USB and Analog cameras, TV-boards, Camcorders and Network IP cameras. The program broadcasts captured content or from your computer or uploads it to FTP server. Broadcasting can be viewed using any Internet browser; no plug-ins or downloads required. The program performs simultaneous recording and broadcasting from unlimited number of cameras. Your camera / cameras can be used as surveillance system. When the program detects motion in the monitored area, it sounds alarm, e-mails you captured images, starts broadcasting, or records video. Live broadcasting as well as recording can be password protected that all video and audio information are scrambled and cannot be viewed without valid password. The program has features to place image overlays and date/time stamp on each video frame, and adjust picture size / quality.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/activewebcam.htm

Blue Iris

Blue Iris is professional-grade software utilizing the latest video software technologies, including MPEG and Windows Media webcasting. Watch your home, cars, and valuables. Watch your pets. Watch your kids. Watch your nanny, babysitter, or your friends. Use up to 12 cameras, the $20 kind, or your digital camcorders. Use motion detection, audio detection, or capture continuously. Overlay text and graphics. Use the built-in web server, or post to a website. Receive alerts via loudspeaker, e-mail, instant messaging, or phone. Updates and support included.

Video Security:

* Use motion or audio sensing to trigger recording, or record continuously or periodically.

* Images may be captured as either JPEG images, MPEG movies or Windows Media movies (full version).

* Receive alerts via loudspeaker, email, instant message, voice phone call, or external program/script.

Friendly Interface:

* The initial view shows live views on the left, and a list of clips on the right.

* When you size the window, the main image sizes with you.

* Click on a camera view or clip to open it.

* Click on the image to zoom in or out.

* A status bar at the bottom lets you know what Blue Iris is doing, and provides help when you pass the cursor over windows and controls.

Powerful Clip Viewer:

* There are controls for playback and stepping frame by frame. A position slider allows random access to any point in the video.

* Zoom and Pan functionality.

* Control the speed of playback (audio as well as video) and the audio volume.

* Automatically archive and retire images.

WebCam Features:

* Built-in multithreaded web server, supports authentication.

* Post images to a remote web server.

* Broadcast MPEG, a JPEG image stream to a Java client applet.

* Perform "true" webcasting using leading-edge Windows Media Technologies such as variable and multiple-bitrate encoding (full version).

* Detailed stats.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/blueiris.htm

John Deprice owns and operates Deprice.Com. For the latest tools, gadgets and software, visit http://www.deprice.com/utilities.htm

Wall Street Journal
Buying a Sense of Security for the Home
Wall Street Journal - Jul 2, 2008
To find out, we called ADT Security Services Inc., Brink's Home Security Inc., Monitronics International Inc. and Protection One Inc., all national ...

Arrested worker needs to be dealt with fairly
Boston Globe, United States - 4 hours ago
Consider alternatives such as: The security of having a job with benefits versus a potentially rigorous job search and paying for your own insurance ...

Sify
Microsoft to Offer Office, Security Suite Subscription For $70 a Year
DailyTech, IL - Jul 4, 2008
Equipt, like Office Home and Student 2007, allows installation on up to 3 machines. Minor updates are automatically provided, through Window's update ...
Microsoft launches security and productivity software service Telecom Paper (subscription)
Microsoft Equipt: A Great Price For Office Plus Security InformationWeek
Microsoft launches Office as SaaS for consumers eChannelLine
The Tech Herald - DaniWeball 321 news articles

InGrid Expands Digital Wireless Home Security Product Suite
TechWhack (press release), India - Jul 3, 2008
InGrid, Inc., the leading provider of digital, wireless home security services (www.ingridhome.com), today announced the availability of several new ...

What does security really mean?
DL-Online, MN - 2 hours ago
Since 9-11, our government and society at large has created agencies in charge of our home security against the threat of terrorism. ...

How would you fix Social Security?
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 17 hours ago
We must build our economy and keep the dollars here at home. By making serious domestic investments in renewable energy, mass transit, hybrid automobiles ...

New York Times
As Gas Prices Soar, Elderly Face Cuts in Aid
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
Mrs. Fair, who has limited mobility because of diabetes, lives on $642 per month in Social Security widow’s benefits, and relies on care from her son, ...

Kidnap Saga: Gloom envelopes Coker’s home - Lagos beefs up ...
Nigerian Tribune, Nigeria - 15 hours ago
At Coker’s home, No 42, Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi, the family was in sober mood on Saturday and refused to talk to journalists for security reasons. ...

Boston Globe
From the Wire
AlterNet, CA - 19 hours ago
Early last month, Jeanne Fair, 62, got her first hot meals delivered to her home in this lake town in the sparsely populated southwestern part of the state. ...
Candidates' pledges drowned out Tampabay.com
all 309 news articles

Animal crackers
Scotland on Sunday, UK - 14 hours ago
Since inheriting several million in her mistress's will, the 'rich bitch' has received several death threats and now needs round-the-clock security, ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Handling a Hurricane; Part 2 - Preparing for and Surviving an Approaching Hurricane