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Home > Free webcam motion detection software -- reviews of the best webcam software for inexpensive home surveillance
May 24, 2007
By: Lynn Bryant
Video surveillance technology is not nearly as expensive
or difficult to acquire as it used to be. A new trend in
video surveillance is driving down the price even further.
Now you can transform your webcam and personal computer into
a fully functioning video surveillance system simply by
installing a webcam motion detection software package.
Webcam software gives you the ability to have your own
home surveillance system for a fraction of the cost of a
typical video surveillance system. In fact, many of the best
webcam software packages are free of charge. For our review,
we have selected five of what we have deemed the best free
webcam software for motion detection to give you some idea
of the functionality you can achieve from your webcam.
Details on each of the five webcam software packages
appear below:
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Dorgem 2.1 -- This software package is a webcam
capture application that can be used with any Windows
compatible webcam. Dorgem can support an unlimited
number of web cameras simultaneously. It also provides
motion detection functionality to any webcam on your
network. You have an unlimited number of storage events
available with this package. In addition, you have the
ability to upload captured images to an FTP site in
addition to your local hard drive. In order to run this
package, you need to be utilizing Windows 95 or greater.
Dorgem is an open source software product, so you can
download it to your PC free of charge.
-
AbelCam 3.1.0 -- Formally know as LogiSphere, this
software package comes with a simple Web server, which
allows you to send and view video from your webcam over
the Internet. AbelCam will work with any Windows
supported webcam device and can accommodate up to 10
cameras running concurrently. You can store recorded
video from all of the webcams on your network directly
on your computers hard drive or upload to an FTP server.
This software also provides motion detection capabilities
and pan/tilt/zoom camera control. It also comes with
some security controls such as user authentication. In
order to have access to all of the features available in
this package, you will need to have
Windows Media Player installed on your PC.
-
VisionGS PE 1.5 -- This package offers real-time
streaming video and motion detection functionality in
addition to an integrated Web server. While the VisionGS
PE version of the software is free to the user, it is
somewhat limited in features. VisionGS also offers a
more advanced webcam software package called VisionGS
BE, which cost $29.95 for a single license. If you like
their basic PE version, you can easily upgrade to the BE
version and get additional functionality such as
operation of unlimited networked cameras, time
synchronization management, and remote camera control.
-
Senriska -- This software provides motion
detection and surveillance capabilities to any USB or IP
camera device. It also provides an automated alert
email-messaging feature, which is triggered when motion
is detected. There are not as many details available for
this software package, but if you wish to try it out,
the download is free.
-
CyeWeb One Channel 2.1.18b -- Basic surveillance
features come with this webcam software package,
previously named SurveillizCam, such as
motion detection and event logging. In addition, you can
use this software to begin automatic recording, or to
generate message alerts when abnormal motion is
detected. You can play back all captured video directly
through Window Media Player or through a built in video
management system that comes with the package. While the
CyeWeb One Channel software is free,
NovoSun also offers a paid upgrade path to more
fully featured multi-channel versions. You can click on the following link to see a
chart detailing
CyeWeb version and feature comparisons
offered by NovoSun. If you are only interested in the
free download version, make sure you select the "One
Channel"
download and not the free trial version of the other
versions.
As you can see, several free webcam software programs are
available to provide many of the same features you can get
from a standard video surveillance system. These packages
give you the ability to transform your webcam at no cost to
you. If you find you can utilize the surveillance
functionality these packages provide, you may choose to
invest in some of the other product offerings that come with
more advanced features. However, once you try out these free
packages, you may find they provide all the functionality
you need to meet your home surveillance needs.
About the Author
Lynn Bryant is a successful freelance writer and contributor
to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your definitive guide to
video surveillance equipment, CCTV cameras and wireless
security systems for home and business.
Also See:
[ Potential misuses
versus benefits of spy digital cameras ]
[ Using hidden
surveillance cameras to counter covert surveillance equipment ]
[ FLIR infrared
cameras & how an infrared thermal imaging camera works ]
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