[dba-VB] c# interface to webcam

Gustav Brock Gustav at cactus.dk
Sat Apr 10 16:36:06 CDT 2010


Hi John

You could use DirectX:

  http://www.codeproject.com/KB/graphics/zMoviePlayer.aspx 

/gustav


>>> jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com 09-04-2010 19:02 >>>
I bought four little USB no name webcams from Newegg the other day.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826717012R 
http://www.imcorpusa.com/products.asp?id=486 

I took a chance just because of the price, I ended up paying $10 each shipped to my door.  What 
peaked my interest is that they are an actual 1280 x 1024 sensor.  Getting more than 640 x 480 is 
tough and usually very expensive.  Thus I figure if they worked I win.  They work!

Windows Vista eventually figures out how to load a driver for them.  I say eventually because it 
takes a good minute before the message pops up.  Once that happens I can use them in any application 
that needs a camera, and the resolution and picture quality is just outstanding!  For example, once 
the driver loads, Skype picks them right up and uses them at max resolution.  GREAT picture!.

So what I really want to do is experiment with them and use C# to read them and display them.

Between now and then, does anyone have a favorite "surveillance" software that isn't too expensive 
that would allow me to connect these to machines around the house and record video?  Movement 
triggered etc.  I have a system in the living room that sits under the TV that I would like to put 
one of these on just to be able to record a burst of a few seconds when it senses movement.  Then 
wait for no movement before resetting to record another burst.

Kind of a poor man's (that would be me) surveillance camera.

I actually went looking, found and downloaded a half dozen packages last night.  Some worked, all 
were klunky if they worked.  There are a bunch that are designed to publish the video to a web 
system so that I could see them from outside the house "when I travel", but I don't travel so I 
really just need them to snap a few seconds every once in a while when there is movement.

And someday play with them in C#.

-- 
John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 






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