Now, I admit this idea cribs freely
from other postings, like the
ChaperoneCam.
This could be implemented either as
a free and open P2P model (virtual
Neighbourhood Watch) or as a paid
and monitored service.
At the client end, user-installed
webcams run on a standards-based,
open-source
software platform. The
cam and software can be installed on
any hardware by the user, and
connected to any available internet
connection. The user pays a
subscription fee and/or time based
charges for only when the system is
active.
The software monitors the cam for
changes in the bitmap (ie
movement). This exists - a friend had
it working to record only the changes
in the scene outside his workplace.
User configurable settings control
sensitivity, hot/dead zones etc.
When the threshold conditions are
met (ie significant movement in a hot
zone) the cam feed "goes live". The
client software sends the feed either
to a centralised security monitoring
service, or a P2P like distribution
service like BitTorrent. It also begins
recording - either locally, or over the
net connection.
People seeking a casual source of
income sign on as security monitors.
They can watch feeds as either a
picture-in-picture on their cable TV,
or a pop-up window on their PC.
When they are using their PCs, or
watching TV, the system logs them
as available for employment. They
can be paid a small amount for the
time the window is active, with
performance bonuses for such things
as phoning in a crime in progress.
Feedback could be as simple as
pressing a button on the remote or
keyboard, which brings the feed to
the attention of a professional
security employee back at base, or to
the subscriber/user via their mobile
phone.
The subscriber and the monitor
would be anonymized from each
other, to prevent monitors using the
cam to case your house for a
burglary.
To prevent people leaving their PC/
TV on and walking away, getting paid
for nothing, a webcam could confirm
that they are actually present and
paying attention. This could be
handled locally in software, so that
only a "present" or "not present"
signal needs to be sent back to the
system. When "not present", the feed
would be passed on to the next
available monitor.
An alternative model might see
people offered free net access in
return for monitoring cam feeds in a
pop-over window.