Can I use Skype like a nanny-cam?

[xanthous]

If I wanted to keep an eye on a room in my house during a realtor's open house, could I use Skype to accomplish this?

[drachillix]

use a remote package like the free logmein

that way you can fire up the cam as needed and access it remotely no matter where you are.

[psychonaut]

Originally Posted by xanthous

If I wanted to keep an eye on a room in my house during a realtor's open house, could I use Skype to accomplish this?

You probably could, but it would be inconvenient, ephemeral, and wasteful. For example, how are you going to initiate the connection? You'll need two computers—one to record the video and the other to watch it. Are you going to get a friend to call you, answer the call, and then go to your friend's house to watch the video? What are you going to do if the connection drops out? Skype won't automatically reconnect. Even if the connection does remain stable, it will be using bandwidth for the entire duration of the call, which can be an issue for both you and your friend if you have transfer limits, or if either of you want to use your Internet connection for something else simultaneously. Finally, what's the point of video monitoring—are you hoping to catch them in the act of stealing or damaging your property? If this is the case, then it's just going to be your word against theirs, since Skype doesn't store the recorded video.

You'd be better off using dedicated remote video surveillance software rather than trying to jury-rig Skype for this purpose. A good package will solve all of these problems.

[Imasquare]

Originally Posted by xanthous

If I wanted to keep an eye on a room in my house during a realtor's open house, could I use Skype to accomplish this?

Their are apps available for both Android and iOS smart phones / tablets that let you look through a web cam attached to a remote computer. Some of the apps are free.

All you need is a PC hosting a web cam, and a web connected smart phone or tablet with the app on it. The PC will also need to have software installed on it which can be downloaded from the app maker's web site.

Here are some examples:

Apple iOS:

http://www.apple.com/webapps/utiliti...foriphone.html
http://www.senstic.com/iphone/aircam/aircam.aspx

Google Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.pas.webcam
http://www.appbrain.com/app/ip-cam-v...ns.ipcamviewer

And finally, I found some open source software that will let you view your web cam from a web connected PC:

http://www.ispyconnect.com/

I hope this helps.

[Imasquare]

Originally Posted by Imasquare

And finally, I found some open source software that will let you view your web cam from a web connected PC:

http://www.ispyconnect.com/

If you want to download the software for this, here is a direct link:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/isp...0.zip/download

The screens that you are presented with to get to the download from the link in my previous post contain a couple of big graphical download buttons which are actually sponsored links. If you click on them instead of the much more discreet link for the real software you will get a few of those horrible Internet Explorer junk toolbars.

And here is a link to the user guide:

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