using the laptop to record what is happening when I go out

joan_brennan

hi peps, hope you can help.
I want to use my laptop to record what is happening in the living room ( where the dogs are) when I go out.
I have two dogs but they are visually very different so the quality can be quite grainy and I would still be able to work out who does what.
I have just looked through the the programmes and I can see windows media but it only looks as though it is for viewing. How do I set up the record thing, oh and can I record sound as well .
thanks in anticipation:beer:

mr_fishbulb

There's an article here about how to take photos from the webcam when it detects motion - http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/09/27/how-to-use-your-pc-and-webcam-as-a-motion-detecting-and-recording-security-camera/

Not a video, but you can set how many seconds interval between taking pics.

I haven't tried it, just found from searching google.

Albert99

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

There's an article here about how to take photos from the webcam when it detects motion -

Not a video, but you can set how many seconds interval between taking pics.

I haven't tried it, just found from searching google.

While taking photos the camera light will be seen by users right?

seedyh

Albert99 wrote: »

While taking photos the camera light will be seen by users right?

Who you planning to spy on? :eek:

Albert99

seedyh wrote: »

Who you planning to spy on? :eek:

Just to take care of laptop from the person who is entering (taking videos without his/her knowledge)

mr_fishbulb

Albert99 wrote: »

While taking photos the camera light will be seen by users right?

Not too sure what you mean by the camera light.

If you mean the monitor, then turn the monitor off. It will probably be off anyway because you are not moving the mouse or keyboard.

Or use a usb webcam and hide the laptop away.

Albert99

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Not too sure what you mean by the camera light.

If you mean the monitor, then turn the monitor off. It will probably be off anyway because you are not moving the mouse or keyboard.

Or use a usb webcam and hide the laptop away.

Yeah the usb webcam may be a good idea.

stef73

I have a logitec webcam the software it came with has a motion detector setting and will record when it detects movement , I have never used it so dont know how good it is.

Bowling_4_Gold

You can normally use the software bundled with most modern branded webcams to do this sort of thing. Creative do a really good application.

You can either buy a Creative webcam and use that, or you can just download the software and use your existing webcam. Then, set it to record when motion is detected, and put the laptop away somewhere near the webcam.

iamana1ias

This sounds really really dodgy!

fiddiwebb

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Not too sure what you mean by the camera light.

If you mean the monitor, then turn the monitor off. It will probably be off anyway because you are not moving the mouse or keyboard.

Or use a usb webcam and hide the laptop away.

What, under the bed you mean! :shocked: