Remote Security W/ Skype

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Now that I'm in a dorm I have to be more careful with my possessions. I thought it would be great if there was an easy way to use my web cam to look over my room when I'm not around. I found a forum online containing the instructions that I am going to use now, and I added some helpful tips.

You need to download 2 copies of skype, one on the computer with the webcam in your room, and another on whatever system you will be using to watch the video. I used my laptop to access the camera, and since my entire school is giant wireless hotspot, I can watch my room on my laptop from math class.

Create 2 separate accounts for each computer.

On the computer with the webcam, you need to go to tools> options> advanced> and check off automatically answer incomming calls.

then

tools> options> video> check start video automatically and only from people in my contact list.

On the comptuer you will use to check in, open the skype account, and call the account on the computer with the webcam. On the comptuer with the webcam save the caller in contacts.

Since most webcams have a LED indicating when they are on, you would want to cover it up. It can be as easy as stuffing a piece of black paper over it, or just drawing on it with a sharpie.

Because the sharpie wouldent hold on the plastic, I stuffed a small piece of tissue over it and soaked it with the black ink. It held and now the light is completely blocked.

In the picture you can see the video in the skype window on my laptop. Now I can check on my room even when I go back to Queens.