2010 February 02

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

By: John Deprice

About the Author:

In an ever changing world where security has become unstable, more people are starting to realize that their once safe environment is not safe anymore. This fear needs to be addressed and what better way to do this than to get a surveillance camera. Designed to monitor anything in its sight, the surveillance camera does more than that. It gives the owner the feeling of control and the confidence to leave his home safe and sound. Because of the sophistication of its design, people are given more options to choose the perfect surveillance camera with the following considerations:

Security Reason

The homeowner would be the best person to know his place inside out and this gives him the information he needs to assess the kind of surveillance camera that he needs. We are talking about entrances and exits, the people who live and frequent the house, the times when they are expected to be home, down to the areas where they usually stay. With these in mind, you are ready for the next concern.

Location

Whether indoor or outdoors, choosing the right place to put your camera is crucial to the camera’s objective. This actually dictates the design of the surveillance system, and how overt you would want it to be. Some people prefer their surveillance cameras to be as overt as possible to flaunt to passersby that they are actually being monitored. Others prefer to be on the strategic side, catching the culprits red handed like a mouse bated with fine cheese. Whatever the purpose of the owner is, location will definitely set this up.

Design

For hiding purposes, there are surveillance cameras that have been designed to look like ordinary objects or small enough to allow its set-up to be carried out as discreet as possible. We’re not just talking about the surveillance camera, we’re also referring to the cables, and most importantly, where to place the monitor which will dictate the strategy of the owner to keep his place absolutely safe. You could even go more sophisticated with Wireless Security Cameras, Digital Video Recorders, and Infrared Security Cameras

Whatever the purpose may be, the owner is given total control over the security of his place. He just needs the right tools and the right strategy to feel assured that no matter what happens, he will be in control wherever he is. Presenting these important facts, we hope that we’d be able to help you achieve your objectives with our expertise and credibility on everything about your safety.

By: William M Ward

About the Author:

The average person looks at covert surveillance with his own biases. But in all intents and purposes, surveillance cameras have good points too, especially if you’re on the trail of a false hearted lover. But what is one man’s meat is poison for another.

Crackdowns on cheats, lovers, and ex-loves

Covert surveillance is a torment to cheating lovers and exes and professional cheats at the poker tables. On the other side of the fence, surveillance cameras are the answers to fervent prayers to catch cheats.

For the average Jane, the words surveillance cameras are thrilling – the need to know if her lover is being true or faithless is overwhelming and any spy ware available in the market is a tantalizing gadget.

Unless there is proof of infidelity, no sane man or woman will admit to it. It’s the big AHA! And poof, relationships are destroyed or re-established after repeated promises of good behavior.

Spying on spouses, legal?

But there are rules to follow in the spying game. Even if you’re on a personal mission, you have to be careful lest you be accused of invading one’s privacy. But is spying against one’s own husband, wife, or lover a crime?

There are many ways to spy on a partner, spouse, or co-habitant:

1. tapping telephones

2. accessing stored computer files

3. intercepting emails

4. stealing passwords to gain personal information

5. spying through surveillance cameras

If you are thinking of doing anything of the above, think twice. Depending on the degree of your spying, you may violate criminal laws, civil codes, and the common law. If you are going to use this proof of infidelity to blackmail or demean your spouse or partner and cause him or her undue stress and trauma, you are liable to answer in court for your careless action.

When not to snoop

When you suspect your live-in partner or husband is onto something and you don’t have surveillance cameras or don’t know a thing about spying, don’t do it on your own.

One woman hid under her husband’s SUV parked in the alleged girlfriend’s house. She fell asleep and unfortunately, someone let all the air of the wheels out and trapped the poor woman under the car.

If you can’t risk your partner’s ire and disgust, then don’t snoop. Snooping often leads to distrust and the eventual dissolution of a relationship. Again, if you can’t endure a break-up at this point in your relationship, don’t snoop.

Going beyond snooping is stalking with snooping. If you are going to the extent of trailing your spouse everyday and making those mysterious calls to his workplace just to make him miserable, be warned.

When to snoop

But still there are ways to get around the snooping issue. If your husband is behaving strangely and you suspect he is into drugs or other illegal activities, then snoop. It is for his sake that you are taking pains to know what is going on.

Get your surveillance cameras to do the snooping in the house when you’re not home. There is a perfect reason for the surveillance system. You can always say that home security is your number one priority. So there is no reason for any police officer to knock on your door and arrest you for spying on your own house.

By: Nahshon Roberts

About the Author:

It is a simple fact of life that the world is becoming a more and more dangerous place to live, as the economy struggles a greater percentage of the population are forced to turn to crime in an effort to make ends meet. This is significantly more noticeable in major urban areas, where some neighborhoods are no longer safe. It makes perfect sense to protect your home using some sort of security system in these places, but how can you be sure that your security system is not simply circumvented by a potential intruder? Discreet surveillance using hidden cameras is one possible solution; let’s take a look out how we can install inexpensive spy cams in strategic positions to create a covert surveillance system.

The problem with protecting a terraced property in a major urban area is that it is unlikely that there will be any form of perimeter fence surrounding the property; this means that normal surveillance cameras, which rely upon being installed in a protected area for them to remain functioning, will not be suitable. A large surveillance camera installed in a doorway on an open street is likely to be damaged or destroyed in short order. Instead we can use a small format, discreet surveillance camera or spy cam to create an invisible security system to protect our urban home.

For a terraced home in a busy city street, a small a spy cam is an ideal way to protect the entrance or doorway into the property. A discreet spy cam or covert surveillance camera can be disguised as something simple such as a light fitting or door knob, and can either be linked to a monitor, or more likely to a PC running a video capturing application. By using suitable software the spy cam can be set to either record continuously, take timed still shots or only capture video when motion is detected. This is an ideal way to protect a doorway that is at street level, where a normal surveillance camera would be vulnerable to damage or theft.

Covert security cameras or spy cams can also be positioned in various places throughout the home, again they can be disguised as day to day home fittings, and can be integrated into a robust security system, a spy cam can function as a motion detector, allowing security alarms to be triggered if motion is detected in part of the property at any time. Additionally, discreet alarms can be established, which can send an email or an SMS message should the alarm be triggered, this is a particularly effective way of dealing with intruders, as they will not be aware that the alarm has been triggered, allowing you to call the police and arrange for the intruders to be apprehended.

Overall, the use of a discreet or covert spy cam style of surveillance camera allows us to install a security system in a property that otherwise would pose a problem.

By: Mac T. Wheeler

About the Author:

Security cameras are the most common method of surveillance. Originally, they were analog video, but digital security cameras have become more commonplace.

Digital security cameras do not rely on videotape recorders and subsequently do not have to have the tapes constantly replaced. However, the digital file can fill up hard drive space. Higher quality security camera images, comparable with DVD quality, only make the files larger. Fortunately, several techniques exist to solve the problem. One of the most common solutions is the use of motion detectors. These signal security cameras when to begin recording, and when to save power by intermittently filming.

People have repeatedly challenged the widespread use of security cameras, claiming that their use results in loss of privacy and loss of civil liberties. This is particularly true in London, where critics have argued that security cameras exist more for controlling the general populace than for crime prevention. Similar arguments have cropped up in Chicago and New York, where security cameras have become more prevalent.

Personal security cameras have also become more popular. These can be plugged into a computer’s USB port, and monitor cubicles or single rooms. As many of these security cameras have a resolution of 4 million pixels, quality is not a problem. Personal security cameras can also include dummy cameras and nanny cams. Both of which are discrete methods of surveillance that either give the impression of security or allow monitoring without the subject being aware of the system. Recently, personal security has grown in popularity due to increased consumer awareness.

By: Alexander Sutton

About the Author:

Cities are a hive of activities. People go to schools, do their business, drive around traffic, and sell various things. Unfortunately, a city is also a thriving environment for notorious people and lawbreakers. It is not uncommon in any city that is everyday news about robberies, murders, speeding, DUI, or any other crime.

Due to the presence of these crimes and activities, law enforcement has developed ways and technologies to apprehend or at least monitor the perpetrators. For example, state police monitor regularly monitor freeways on the lookout for drug traffickers. Some policemen are assigned to go undercover and risk their lives during a stakeout. Other crude yet ingenious ways include placing realistic cardboard cutouts of police cars or officers to discourage criminals from doing their crimes! After all, a criminal would hesitate when he sees a police unit before committing a crime.

New technologies include the development of nonlethal weapons and the improvement of exiting technologies, such as, complicated databases and citizen identification. One of the more controversial technologies is the video surveillance camera. These cameras are located in many public places where police think that crime is most likely to happen.

In theory, video surveillance cameras can deter or even prevent crime. In theory, they are able to provide evidence for a crime. But do these theories really sound as good as they are?

To gauge how efficient surveillance cameras prevent crime is a somewhat problematic issue. That’s because there are a lot of vague variables to take into consideration. No matter how skilled policemen and investigators are, they can’t entirely be conclusive that a crime has been planned just because something suspicious came up in the surveillance report. In fact, other factors, such as, law enforcement strategies, the city’s economy, and even the season can contribute to such vagueness.

For example, a recent study shows that since 2006, seventy-three cameras that are installed in the general Washington, DC area have never recorded footage that has helped solve crimes. For the local government, this has been a pain in the neck since it has invested millions of dollars for such equipment only to find out that the system is not as efficient as it was predicted.

So are CCTVs useless? It’s far from it. Knowing that there are hidden cameras around, criminals now think twice before doing their nefarious crimes. In fact, the New York police department stated that along with increased police patrols, video surveillance cameras have made the crime rate in the Big Apple drop to 30 percent. This is especially true in high-crime neighborhoods such as in the Bronx.

Other U.S. cities reported the same results. For example, in New York city’s urban housing centers, crime dropped at 36 percent. In Baltimore, crime rate dropped at 17 percent; in Philadelphia, 37 percent.

Aside from the more nefarious crimes, the presence of these cameras also reduced auto-related crimes and accidents by as much as 41 percent. And, of course, they are always helpful for post-crime investigations.

By: Steve Strong

About the Author: