Playing A Burglar Deterrent Cd When Motion Is Detected Using A Webcam As A Motion Sensor

This "do it yourself " home security system configuration gives an affirmative answer to the question "Can I play a burglar deterrent CD in my apartment only when a motion is detected outside the front door?".

There were some excellent questions from the users of burglar deterrent CD. They wanted an option to play this household sounds CD only when someone is, actually, in front of the door of the apartment, instead of playing the CD non-stop. By the way, there is nothing wrong to play burglar deterrent CD around the clock. It will make your home more secure place 24 hours a day.

Now, with the setup explained in this article, the burglar deterrent CD play will be triggered only if someone is passing or standing in front of the apartment  door, in the hallway. It is an exciting and new opportunity to use burglar deterrent CD. Moreover, the sounds from the CD, that will start when motion is detected, will not stop immediately nor after couple of seconds. They will continue to play next hour, so the burglar can not 'test' the device by walking back and forth in front of the door.

These noises can not be heard through the walls of an apartment (neighbors will not be disturbed) yet they can be heard by anyone who listens outside the door.

What is required to have this Motion Sensor Based Home Security and Burglar Deterrent System:

1. Laptop.
2. Webcam.
3. SupervisionCam (free software download)
4. Burglar Deterrent CD (to obtain a selection of CDs Google the phrase 'burglar deterrent CD')
5. Winamp free version.
6. Duct tape (any home hardware store).

The Webcam Motion Sensor Solution

The idea is to have an inexpensive home security configuration that will allow a webcam to sense the motion in front of the door and instantly play, non intrusive, pre recorded household sounds that will intimidate a potential burglar. The question I have answered is, if you live in an apartment or in a condominium, what is the security device you can use to detect the motion in front of your door without mounting a possibly very expensive motion sensors in the hallway?

The answer is to use a webcam as the motion sensor in concert with SupervisionCam free software on your laptop.

The steps are as follows. Install SupervisionCam program. Connect your webcam to your laptop and start SupervisionCam program. Select your video source, and SupervisionCam will recognize your camera right away, and you should be getting a live picture on your laptop monitor at this time. Next step is to simply mount your webcam on the door viewing hole (peephole, eyehole). You may want to use duct tape to easily do that. Align the webcam lens with the viewing hole. Now, your webcam is already connected to your laptop and SupervisionCam program is running. These door eyeholes have very wide viewing angle, usually over 120 degrees, so they can catch every movement around and in front of your door. The image of the hallway in front of your door will be shown on your laptop.

Default settings for motion sensitivity in the SupervisonCam are well suited for this application. In the Play Sound / Run Program settings tab I have chosen Winamp as the Program parameter to play the burglar deterrent CD, and full path of the burglar deterrent CD or MP3 file as the input command line parameter for Winamp.

Testing

It has few steps only. Set the Start Delay parameter in SupervisionaCam to 30 sec, and press Monitor button. It will cause the monitoring starts. You have 30 seconds to open the door, exit, close the door, and move away down the hall. Wait approximately one minute. Walk back towards your door and listen carefully. Once you are in front of the door, you will trigger the webcam sensor and you will hear realistic noises coming from the inside of your apartment, making undeniable impression that someone is in.

System Advantages

Advantages of the proposed system are:

1. Extraordinary Effectiveness. Webcam and software can sense motion and react in a fraction of a second by instantly playing household sounds, sending alarms over e-mail, and recording images if set in that way.

2. It's inexpensive. While similar monitoring systems cost hundreds of dollars, this one, (given that you already have a laptop and a webcam) costs much less. For example burglar deterrent CD can be found in the price range of $3.99 -$ 10.99 and a duct tape (unless you already have one) is around $2.99.

3. Works through power outages. The system manages well power outages. It will work through any wall power supply interruptions. Laptop has a backup battery that kicks in right away if the wall power is off. The laptop backup batteries last for hours. You don't have to invest in an expensive UPS, Uninterruptible Power Supply.

4. Easy to setup. It takes only a few steps and anywhere between 15 min to half an hour to setup the whole system, even for a novice. No previous experience necessary.

5. It is reliable. Today's technology supplies quality computer and internet based products at a low price. Components I have used here are all with high reliability by their very nature of design: laptop, webcam.

This motion sensor based monitoring and burglar deterrent system is ideal for apartments and condominiums.

About the Author

Jason Reinhart, M. Eng., is an Electrical Engineer and Software Developer. He has been working in the software industry more than 15 years. Jason developed software projects for Hydro, Financial and Biotechnology companies. His interests include software application in smart homes, home security, and novel applications in reducing possibility of home invasions. In his free time he writes about home security, software solutions, film, travel, and does digital photography. Web site: www.SuperDeterrent.com

Web site: www.SuperDeterrent.com

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