Camerama
By MP on Sunday 26 November 2006, 21:43 - Journal - Permalink
I am sitting at my desk at home, surrounded by cameras, cables and compact
discs. But things just ain't working.
I've experimented with three different webcam server packages: Biromsoft's Webcam, YawCam and TinCam. I've tried three different cameras: Nogatech, Kritter, and Kensington. I've also explored the use of a Belkin video-USB adaptor that in theory allows me to attach any video camera.
The Nogatech is a really great little camera, well made, good quality picture, and both small and easily mounted on walls or other surfaces. The problem seems to be that this very good camera is paired with a very bad camera driver. When I use it my whole system often crashes.
When I tried other cameras I couldn't get either Webcam or YawCam to recognise them. Only TinCam seemed able to detect them. Unfortunately TinCam has the disadvantage that it requires Microsoft Media Player to run on the client's computer. I'd rather not have to impose this requirement on those who want to use my home-made surveillance system.
It is not the first time I have been thwarted by less than perfect digital camera driver software. My solution in the past was to use the Belkin video-USB device, which requires only one driver (a reliable one too, as it happens) and allows one to connect any number of different cameras to its video input. Unfortunately, it is again only the TinCam software that recognises it.
So, I am at something of an impasse, as shown below:
* Requires that the client installs Microsoft Media Player.
The other side of the system, Internet streaming, appears to be quite straightforward. Both YawCam and Webcam work well. I have not fully tested video streaming with TinCam but other methods of putting video on the net appear to work fine.
So much for the technicalities. Now for the social and ethical aspects.
Derek and I think there are sufficient reasons for installing a not-too-intrusive monitoring system for mum and dad. Others who have given me an opinion agree with us. What Rachel, Greg and Regan think, I still don't know.
Whether, once installed, the system will be invulnerable to tampering is something I think I can ensure. Dad might be inclined to dismantle the system, but I doubt it. He probably won't even notice it. His eyesight is really quite poor, and I shall install the camera or cameras in unobtrusive places, above or below eye level. And these days dad generally calls Greg or I if he thinks there is anything wrong with equipment. Previous experience tells me that nobody will ever notice the cameras.
It is probably illegal to make video recordings of people without their knowledge. The social services and others who come to the house may have objections, both personal and supported by legislation. I am simply choosing to disregard such rights, if they exist, for the greater good of mum and dad's well-being. If, in order to be legally unimpeachable, I have to erect signs saying 'This area is under constant video surveillance' I can guarantee endless questions and confusion on mum and dad's part. It would probably be the end of the whole enterprise.
I've experimented with three different webcam server packages: Biromsoft's Webcam, YawCam and TinCam. I've tried three different cameras: Nogatech, Kritter, and Kensington. I've also explored the use of a Belkin video-USB adaptor that in theory allows me to attach any video camera.
The Nogatech is a really great little camera, well made, good quality picture, and both small and easily mounted on walls or other surfaces. The problem seems to be that this very good camera is paired with a very bad camera driver. When I use it my whole system often crashes.
When I tried other cameras I couldn't get either Webcam or YawCam to recognise them. Only TinCam seemed able to detect them. Unfortunately TinCam has the disadvantage that it requires Microsoft Media Player to run on the client's computer. I'd rather not have to impose this requirement on those who want to use my home-made surveillance system.
It is not the first time I have been thwarted by less than perfect digital camera driver software. My solution in the past was to use the Belkin video-USB device, which requires only one driver (a reliable one too, as it happens) and allows one to connect any number of different cameras to its video input. Unfortunately, it is again only the TinCam software that recognises it.
So, I am at something of an impasse, as shown below:
|
Biromsoft Webcam |
YawCam |
TinCam* |
|
|
Nogatech |
crashes |
crashes |
crashes |
|
Kritter |
can’t find camera |
can’t find camera |
OK |
|
Kensington |
can’t find camera |
can’t find camera |
OK |
|
Belkin Video-USB |
can’t find camera |
can’t find camera |
OK |
* Requires that the client installs Microsoft Media Player.
The other side of the system, Internet streaming, appears to be quite straightforward. Both YawCam and Webcam work well. I have not fully tested video streaming with TinCam but other methods of putting video on the net appear to work fine.
So much for the technicalities. Now for the social and ethical aspects.
Derek and I think there are sufficient reasons for installing a not-too-intrusive monitoring system for mum and dad. Others who have given me an opinion agree with us. What Rachel, Greg and Regan think, I still don't know.
Whether, once installed, the system will be invulnerable to tampering is something I think I can ensure. Dad might be inclined to dismantle the system, but I doubt it. He probably won't even notice it. His eyesight is really quite poor, and I shall install the camera or cameras in unobtrusive places, above or below eye level. And these days dad generally calls Greg or I if he thinks there is anything wrong with equipment. Previous experience tells me that nobody will ever notice the cameras.
It is probably illegal to make video recordings of people without their knowledge. The social services and others who come to the house may have objections, both personal and supported by legislation. I am simply choosing to disregard such rights, if they exist, for the greater good of mum and dad's well-being. If, in order to be legally unimpeachable, I have to erect signs saying 'This area is under constant video surveillance' I can guarantee endless questions and confusion on mum and dad's part. It would probably be the end of the whole enterprise.
Comments
You know, Mike, I think the big contingency here is our parents' inability to give informed consent. Because they are no longer able to understand some basic facts about themselves, I think--legally--they would be unable to understand any signs or explanations we might give them about wanting to monitor them. So, in a way, this is similar to webcams that are used to monitor children. Whether you have POA or guardianship or not, you are still taking care of them at this point. I don't know what legal responsibilities that entails--I think that an adult child could be held responsible for neglecting a vulnerable parent, but I'm not sure about the law. In any case, it's pretty clear that you and your family are not doing this for entertainment or a gratuituous invasion of privacy (and who needs to do that these days, anyway, when there are willing webcam subjects all over the internet??). I thought of doing this myself before moving in with my mother.
I wish I could help you with the software, but I've never set up a webcam. My only thought (having had my OS tell me in the past that it couldn't find my printer) is that there is probably a small tweak--a preference file somewhere?--to get the first two softwares to recognize the cameras. Or maybe there are more recent drivers that could be installed? That's frustrating.
I've looked for more recent drivers, without success. It seems the reason that Biromsoft WebCam and YawCam do not work with my cameras is that they both require Video for Windows (VfW). The reason TinCam works with the cameras is that it works on the alternative to VfW, known as DirectShow. VfW is the older of the two methods. From a programmer's point of view VfW is easier to use, which may explain why these cheap or free packages use it, despite its lower functionality.
I've since gone looking for DirectShow webcam servers, and found Webcam Tracker Live - a tiny program that seems to do everything I want, very easy to set up, and works with my other cameras, but... also require Microsoft Media Player. I suspect that the implementation of DirectShow may predetermine the use of Media Player.
Finally, a webcam server that works! It is called Willing Webcam, and is capable of working with both VfW and DirectShow. It is far more sophisticated than any of the other webcam servers I've tried (which means there are more ways for me to screw up), and will go to sleep after a few days unless I send off my $39.95, but apart from that it looks like it might just do the job.