PTZ/Dome Cameras

[Jon Fautley]

Hi,

As part of the Nokia clear out, we've acquired a box full of "dome"
cameras. I don't know if they a) work or b) are easy to work with, but
the fixed ones seem to have composite out and take a 12V feed. I'd
imagine there's a reasonably simple way to control the PTZ ones, as
well.

I'd like to propose fitting a few more cameras around the space,
specifically covering the "tools of death" in the workshop, and a bit
better coverage of the various communal areas. I do not propose
putting them in the toilets.

Before I go to the effort of actually seeing if they work, getting
capture devices setup, etc.. what is the general reaction to this,
either positive or negative? I would propose that all footage is
available to members, as with the current webcams. No secret spying
here, TYVM.

Cheers

Jon

[Jonty Wareing]

I'm all in favour of a couple more in the workshop (people keep asking),
but I would prefer them to be fixed rather than movable. Mainly because
the movable ones freak people out, and they also mean we don't always
have coverage of some areas.

Do we actually need more in the social areas? The coverage seems pretty
good right now, and it could just end up being a bit over the top. That
said we could put one in the kitchen I guess.

Are they weatherproof at all? We really need a new doorcam.

--jonty

P.S. I would really like an LCD attached to the door showing doorcam
constantly. Pint to the person who implements it.

[Jon Fautley]

On 24 September 2012 21:44, Jonty Wareing <jo...@jonty.co.uk> wrote:
> Do we actually need more in the social areas? The coverage seems pretty
> good right now, and it could just end up being a bit over the top. That
> said we could put one in the kitchen I guess.

I was thinking one at the other end of the main room, as it's quite
difficult to see what's happening down there on the main camera.

> Are they weatherproof at all? We really need a new doorcam.

I don't think so - they seemed to be the internal ceiling mounted
type. It may be possible to make them water resistant to replace
doorcam though. Is the problem with the camera itself, or the method
of capturing the data?

Jon

[Monty]

Personally, I don't think we need more in the social areas but it would be nice to have more/better coverage of the fireexits, front doors, member boxes, and tools of death.

[Tim Reynolds]

+1 on all exits/extrances. I can donate a peephole camera for doorcam if
someone has the time to fit it.

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

IIRC there are a couple of fairly standard serial protocols for
controlling PTZ cameras. Hooking them up would likely just be a case of
correct cables and enough ports to plug them into.

I don't know how difficult getting *all* the cameras to stream would be,
but I'd say first priority would be using fixed cameras to ensure full
security coverage, and then at least one PTZ in each room for web-control.

As 90s as it may sound, perhaps a "virtual hackspace"? Have the PTZ cams
embedded in a members page with the IRC chat. Make it a bit more
interactive than invasive.

Previously it would have been seriously impractical to suggest it, but
with the network-controllable power-strips that also arrived recently,
the ceiling-mount speakers and RFID access controls we could really make
a "smart space". Show what's currently in use, maybe who's using it
(with opt-out/in of course), etc.

If the speakers can be addressed individually, I'd say pair each one
with each PTZ cam and get remote text-to-speech alongside the web-based
cam controls. With user-ID announcement of course. EG; "Message from
user 'Russ': Please stop being on fire."

In the more immediate term though I'd just suggest making sure any fixed
camera over the welding area has a decent UV filter so the sensor
doesn't get burnt out.

[Jasper Wallace]

There's a PCI capture card in the pile of bits in the quiet room, and if
you want i've got a usb2 capture thing that can be used as well.

We've got at least 1 small lcd screen that will do composite in.

--
[http://pointless.net/] [0x2ECA0975]