How to use your webcam as a motion-detecting security system

Filed under: Photo, Security, Video, Windows, Open Source

How to use your webcam as a motion-detecting security system

by Jordan Running Sep 28th 2006

Worried about unsavory individuals lurking around your office or home and jacking your computer gear? Have no fear! With the help of your Windows PC, webcam, some free software, and this handy tutorial from Simplehelp, you can set up a reasonably sophisticated DIY security system. The core of the tutorial is Dorgem, an open source utility that captures images from your webcam and can save images based on "storage events," e.g. every 30 seconds or every time it detects motion. Since having photos of your intruder on your computer isn't very useful after the computer is gone, Dorgem has the ability to send the files to an external server via FTP or HTTP, or hand the files off to another program. The tutorial also covers more advanced techniques, like setting up multiple webcams and hiding your webcam from sight.

Tags: camera, dorgem, free, freeware, motion, security, theft, video, webcam

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

midwestmusic said 2:30PM on 9-28-2006

That sounds like a seriously complicated webcam, but it's a great idea none the less.

master said 2:53PM on 9-28-2006

Great! I'll try it as soon as I get a webcam - in a month or so )

Ross said 3:05PM on 9-28-2006

Thx downloadsquad folks :) I'm frantically working on the OS X and Linux versions of the same tutorial..

Cheers,

Ross

Gardiner Westbound said 3:49PM on 9-28-2006

Logitech webcams come with a similar program.

Max said 5:34PM on 9-28-2006

I wanted this program for half a year! I just forgot to search for it :)

ScOObyDoo said 5:59PM on 9-28-2006

I use Active Webcam from Pysoft (not related to them), I'm running 8 webcams all at the same time, all on screen with motion detection on 4 of them. It'll record for me and email me snapshots of motion. Not free, but when I was testing them it was the best I could find.

Thomas said 9:11PM on 9-28-2006

If you're trying to do it on Linux, the hardest part is getting the drivers for your webcam. Once you have that you can use programs like "camstream" or "camE" to take and store the pictures at any interval. Then you can bundle that with an app called "motion" to save video when the camera detects movement. I just did this last weekend on my Fedora box.

OMAC said 10:48AM on 9-29-2006

Creative webcams also have this feature, you can email the pics as they happen or post it to a website. You can even have it play a sound when motion is detected.

Sean Hattaway said 12:01PM on 10-03-2006

This is very helpful. This'll do a lot when we add this to our security systems, especially at home.

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