[hackerspaces] Webcam setups, for security and community?

[Arclight]

One of our members wrote a server back-end that you can point the
Linksys web cams at for off-site storage. It gets FTP updates whenever
one of the cameras detects motion, then stitches the frames together
into a flash player.

He says he'll open-source it if there is interest. He just doesn't
have time to maintain it.

Anyone interested in a first world-wide hackerspace infrastructure project

Regarding security and monitoring who is there, I think the best
approach is to combine a hardware-based access/alarm board with a
Linux server that monitors and ties in with video.  Being able to see
who came/went, status of all of the doors (did someone leave the front
door unlocked?) and having an IP-based alarm system that you don't
have to pay for (we use an SMS call-out list) really gives you the
best of all worlds. Sensors and embedded hardware for real-time
operations, and video for auditing, verification of alarms, and
general "what's going on?" questions.

Anyone want to work on video software?

Arclight

On Fri, Nov 4, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Mars <itcamefrommars at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'll say one last thing... Tech that changes and goes through fast generation changes(like surv. Equip) really enables 1-2(or older) year old tech to be found on the super cheap on eBay...  That's basically what HF sells IMHO... Although I love them for some stuff.
>
> But how important is it this project?  I'd say webcams one the ubercheap and wired netcams from eBay... I got a bunch - well a few- of 2003 dlink net webcams and I think they have wee wittle net servers built in... Or at least some minimal http interface.  A little research and ya might find some ancient netcams that can be refirmwareloaded w some open Linux based stuffamagoo.
>
> Dunno... Just thoughts.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 4, 2011, at 12:07 PM, psytek at alphaonelabs.com wrote:
>
>> http://www.harborfreight.com/4-channel-surveillance-dvr-with-4-cameras-and-mobile-monitoring-capabilities-68332.html
>>
>> On Nov 4, 2011, at 9:42 AM, Ben Brown <ben at generik.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> Our space is using two D-Link IP cameras monitoring both entrances out
>>> in the hall. I had tried to get zoneminder to play ball (along with some
>>> regular USB webcams) but no dice. For now we're using the DVR software
>>> the cameras came with. Seems to work well enough, plus we have two weeks
>>> of motion-detected video if we ever need it.
>>>
>>> However you'll never beat the quality of a commercial surveillance
>>> system... expensive as hell, but you do get what you pay for.
>>>
>>> Ben
>>>
>>> On 11/3/2011 1:07 PM, mars at redecho.org wrote:
>>>> Forgive me if this topic has been beaten to death already: I am new to
>>>> this list and have found it difficult to search through the archives.
>>>>
>>>> I am affiliated with Air Light Time & Space here in Seattle. We want to
>>>> set up some webcams, both as a security measure and as a way of promoting
>>>> community engagement. We think that people will be more likely to "just
>>>> stop by" if they can check in first and see what to expect.
>>>>
>>>> Commercial security camera systems look complicated and expensive. We were
>>>> thinking that we could get a bunch of cheap USB webcams and plug them into
>>>> a cheap PC and run some free software on it. Of course none of us actually
>>>> know how to do this, which is why I am asking for advice.
>>>>
>>>> Have any of you set up such a system? Can you give me any pointers on
>>>> hardware or software that I should look into? What is the state of Linux
>>>> camera drivers - are there certain models which should be favored or
>>>> avoided? Is there such a thing as a weatherproof USB webcam? How far can
>>>> you stretch a USB connection? (It'd be cool to put a camera over the front
>>>> door, but that's a good 80 feet from where the PC would live.)  Video
>>>> would be great, but we would be happy with still frames.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any pointers you can offer!
>>>>
>>>> Mars Saxman @ ALTSpace
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