Vox commando (and other software) as a house alarm

[MrWolf]

Woke up with this idea in my head.

How feasible do you guys think it would be to have a webcam pick up movement and start a sequence?

I was thinking something along the lines of...

Wait 10 seconds
If certain keyboard keys are pressed during this time; start welcome home command, otherwise...
Set Volume to 30
TTS: Intruder alert, your photograph has been taken and will be emailed to a remote location
Switch lights on and off via telstick/HALX
Take photograph via webcam and email it to email address
TTS: You have 10 seconds to leave the premises before dewadlock sequence.
10...
9...
8...
7...
6...


They'd soon leave 
It is even feasible to buy a home easy door lock and lock the bastards in, but I don't think I'll take it that far

Anyone got any suggestions on how this could be easily achieved?

I know how to do TTS, and send commands to tellstick/HALX.  Not so clear on IF statements, keyboard input being recognised and clueless on Webcam side of things.

What do you guys reckon?

-P

[jitterjames]

It is pretty doable.  Are you planning to use your webcam attached to your computer?

Only downside there is that you must leave your PC on at all times which is a waste of electricity.

Kalle and I tested a webcam app (that another user was asking about) that makes this quite easy, but I can't remember what it was called.  Must search forum a bit...

You can also do it with an IP camera, Vera, and possible Insteon or others.

[jitterjames]

Found it

http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=1015.0

[xtermin8r]

Hi MrWolf

It's definately possible with halx, as you know the Halx has a serial port on the back, the serial port can be connected to a motion detector (PIR), if someone approaches the door and continues to lurk outside the door then halx can send an event to VC, to do the rest.

Thats how i am doing it.

[jitterjames]

This is very interesting.  Can you provide more details on how to set it up?  An example of :

- the right kind of PIR to buy
- how to wire it to the serial port
- what to configure on halx to send the event to VC

would be much appreciated! 

[xtermin8r]

Hi James

I can't provide any information just yet. I'm a bit busy, when i get a chance i will show you the way.

[MrWolf]

Hi gents,

Managed to find an old webcam and have downloaded Ispy.  Cool software!

So question is; how can I get Ispy to start motion detection and stop motion detection using Vox or Eventghost?

Any ideas?

-P

 

[xtermin8r]

Hi MrWolf

iSpy - Best Free Security Camera Software http://www.ispyconnect.com/
iSpy is a free security camera software that allows you to uses your webcams and microphones for visual motion and sound detection. You can use iSpy for live remote camera monitoring or use it as a real-time security surveillance system. iSpy can record and detect specific area for movements and sound to provide alerts. You can command it to run any program or send an email or SMS alert when movement or sound is detected.

try getting it to open a webpage shortcut.

make sure the web page shortcut contains this url http://halx/vox.cgi?cmd=event&&security%20alert
an event will be sent to vc, you know what to do after that.
not the best of methods, but its a start.

Good luck

[xtermin8r]

Hi

Forgot to mention that there is a command line program that sends udp commands to vc, try that, i have forgotten the name, maybe James can enlighten us.

I found it, it's called udpsender take a look here http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=414.msg2815#msg2815

[jitterjames]

http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=1015.msg8481#msg8481

[MrWolf]

Thanks guys, that's ace.  I can now trigger Vox with Ispy.  Any way to trigger Ispy with Vox?

i.e. I can say "set alarm", and I spy starts monitoring and when I come home I can say "switch alarm off" or similar and it will stop Ispy?

-P

[jitterjames]

I would imagine you'll need to use a combination of launch, window.focus, and keyboard emulation.  Perhaps I spy has some hotkeys you can use?  Or you leave it on all the time and have VC decide whether alerts should be ignored.

[jitterjames]

This might be useful...

http://www.ispyconnect.com/userguide-remotecommands.aspx

[MrWolf]

Thanks mate, looks like it might be slightly awkward.  The developer has made all those options subscription based.

One off payments are all well and good but 5 dollars a month is more than I want to spend.

I'm finding workarounds akin to what you suggested though, and I've set the record location to a drop box folder to get around the lack of network support without subscription.

Reckon I'm almost there, Eventghost kills Ispy when I say "hi honey I'm home" now.  Just need to find a way to get Ispy to wait 20 seconds before alerting so when I initially walk through the door it doesn't immediately start telling me it's going to call the police and chop my head off etc.  Don;t suppose you came across this option when you were trialling?  I'm not seeing it!

-P

[jitterjames]

No but you could use this

http://voxcommando.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Actions#SetEventTimer