Program that will automatically record motion from a camera

**Timbuk2**

I'm looking for a freeware program that uses a camera that plugs into a computer (camcorder or webcam, that type of camera). I want it to start recording when it detects motion and finish recording when the motion is finished

Kind of like a motion sensor, but it takes these clips and saves them so after a while I will have a load of small video clips of motion going on, and it only records the motion, not the steady bits in between

Are there any programs out there that will do this?

Thanks in advance

liamo

Yes. I implemented this at home a while back. Any motion detected by a networked WebCam was recorded and an SMS was sent to my cellphone to alert me to the fact that motion was detected.

The software I used was "motion" - check out http://www.lavrsen.dk/twiki/bin/view/Motion/WebHome

Regards,

Liam

PS The SMS part of it was implemented separately - it's not a function of "motion"

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for replying

That looks like a great program, just one problem

Is there any way to download that program wtihout having to compile it myself? I would just like to download it and install it as I do not have any compilers or any programming software installed on the computers

Thanks again,
Tim

liamo

Perhaps I should have included more information in my reply.

This application was designed for use on Linux. I believe there are ports to Mac and BSD, but if you're asking if there is a pre-compiled binary for Windows then (as far as I know) you're out of luck.

If you're not using Windows then there are pre-compiled binaries for FC4, Debian and Ubuntu at Motion's home page.

Regards,

Liam

**Timbuk2**

Oh I see

I'm using Windows

I'll keep looking around then

Thanks for the help!

kirving

There is software exactly like that that came with a creative webcam that i bouth, maybe its on their site.

L31mr0d

This might be redundant but i'll give you the link anyway

XP power toys

Surprisingly there are quite a few really usfull apps on there. I use the batch image resizer a lot, and the webcam timershot is close to what you are looking for. I used it to make a pretty nifty video of the day passing out the window by taking 1 photo every minute.

Other than that, try downloads.com and search for something like motion detector. There should be something on there.

dr strangelove

i've been using this for ages, and i'm quite happy with it.