This is the continuation of the article on the best free programs to create a video surveillance system with IP cameras and webcams, make dates, at home, in a shop or office, using a computer and various webcams connected to it. The speech of video surveillance in recent times has become rather banal from the IT point of view because, in fact, these are very simple programs as a basic principle: if you have a webcam, you use the computer to record everything that is filmed .
To avoid consuming the entire disk space with long and even unnecessary recordings, the software uses automatic motion detection and only records if there are objects or people moving in front of the camera .
To save even more space and even time for those who review the recordings, you can then choose not to take videos but only to take photographs when someone appears and moves in front of the lens.
Although the basic concept is simple, implementing a real home surveillance system requires rather powerful software and, reviewing the list of programs mentioned above, where only free software is mentioned, it is noted that they are not really simple to use and configure .
Although for a real and serious video surveillance you probably have to spend some money on professional equipment and software, this does not mean that it is possible, with the help of free software and simple webcams, to obtain a system worthy of a bank!
The greatest difficulties are encountered when you want to connect multiple cameras to the same computer.
In this case, the software should support the viewing of multiple webcams (which cannot be taken for granted) and you should also be able to control the footage from any other location connected to the internet.
Since this would require the creation of a video server accessible from all over the world and since not everyone can do it, we also saw a site that detects the movements of the webcam .
The most tangible function of this surveillance system is to be able to monitor a child in his room or an infant in bed.
In this post, after this necessary summary, we see 5 simple free programs that allow you to transform the webcam into a surveillance or security camera .
They are very simple, intuitive and immediate software to use at home or to control not too large and crowded environments.
1) The best is AtHome Video Streamer, a popular software that recognizes movements in front of the webcam and, as mentioned before, records videos only when something happens .
AtHome works well because you can configure the sensitivity of the detected movement, that is, you can decide when the video recorder function must enter, at the slightest vibration of an object or for a person passing in front of the camera.
Networked cameras can be configured in different places and multiple webcams can be managed simultaneously .
2) Sentry Vision is a free surveillance program that works only with webcams and not with IP cameras.
It can record both video from a webcam and audio from a microphone.
Among the functions: motion detection, transmission, e-mail and audible alarm.
This program can also be controlled remotely and also has the ability to hide so as not to let those who use the PC know that it is under surveillance.
3) iSpy to monitor with webcam and microphone recording the movements on the computer, free and open source, is among the best ever and has deserved a separate article.
4) Rear View Mirror is a fairly simple program that records and activates surveillance only when motion is detected.
5) HomeCamera, as the name implies, is especially indicated for home use.
It is not a real video surveillance but a system that when it detects movements in front of the webcam, takes photos until the scene comes back to a stop.
This program has been in beta for about a year so it is still free however it requires registration.
The good thing is that it integrates with a website from which you can see photos taken from the internet.
You can also choose to have an automatic email sent when there is an alarm and a photo is taken.
6) Motion Monitor is an unpretentious program suitable for a single webcam attached to the computer, perhaps to monitor and monitor the environment when you go somewhere else and leave the PC on.
Motion Monitor also detects movements and takes photos when a certain sensitivity threshold is exceeded.
Photos are saved to the program folder in C: / Programs / Motion Monitor.
7) The Motion Detection program is very simple but effective, a portable and free video surveillance program that does not require installation, with very few configuration options.
Just to adjust the sensitivity of the webcam to the movements that are placed in front of it and the program activates recording whenever that sensitivity threshold is exceeded.
Finally, I like to remember that it is possible to spy on the footage from public webcams located in various areas of the planet.
