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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → Return of the Door Sign
12
Return of the Door Sign
2006-02-28, 12:57 PM #1
Presenting the Mk. III version, now with a "peephole"!

[http://random-m.com/images/812030258_doorsignmkIII.jpg]

It's the same as the Mk II., except of course for the attached camera. It's a cheapo webcam that I got at a surplus store for about 15 bucks, and I extended the cable into what must be the world's longest USB cable (well, it's probably about 12 feet), so it can plug into my computer.

BTW, does anyone know how I would go about recording video from a webcam? Nothing seems to recognize it as a capture source. Well, except VLC, but I'd prefer to avoid any unnecessary BSoDs.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 12:59 PM #2
Dude, that's awesome. How much of that is custom built?
"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009
2006-02-28, 1:01 PM #3
Aren't you worried someone may vandalize your camera?

I don't know about capturing video, but Powertoys for XP has a tool that will let you take pictures at set intervals.
Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski,
Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski,
Za twoim przewodem
Złączym się z narodem.
2006-02-28, 1:02 PM #4
Good stuff.
Pissed Off?
2006-02-28, 1:03 PM #5
Ok, how much?
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
2006-02-28, 1:08 PM #6
looks like an excellent way to get burgled
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2006-02-28, 1:10 PM #7
Heh, detty has a point...the thing says you're out, what's to deter a thief from just breaking in?
"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009
2006-02-28, 1:11 PM #8
get a gun

set it to "out"

wait
2006-02-28, 1:12 PM #9
Originally posted by Freelancer:
Dude, that's awesome. How much of that is custom built?


Well, all of it, except for the camera. The main part of the sign is just cardboard with a printed label glued onto it, and it has the LEDs coming through from the back. The two white wires control the LEDs and the black wire is for the camera (it has a little microphone too).

Anyways, I'm not really worried about vandalism; nobody ever messed with the sign before. And even if they did try to take the camera, they'd get a crappy 15 dollar webcam that's had its shell removed, and just some wires trailing out of it and no USB plug.

EDIT: I'm no more at risk of having someone break in than anyone else is; we actually all got signs on our doors at the beginning of the year, with a paperclip that you use to indicate where you are. You can see it on the door across the hall:

[http://random-m.com/images/641773062_acrosshall.jpg]

(As I said, crappy $15 webcam)
Stuff
2006-02-28, 1:13 PM #10
Virtualdub and Media Player Classic can both capture video.
2006-02-28, 1:14 PM #11
I really, really want one now :)
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
2006-02-28, 1:17 PM #12
I want one too.

But I want all the options to say "**** Off"
2006-02-28, 5:14 PM #13
[QUOTE=Mr. Stafford]get a gun

set it to "out"

wait[/QUOTE]
I laughed.
2006-02-28, 5:18 PM #14
Originally posted by Freelancer:
Heh, detty has a point...the thing says you're out, what's to deter a thief from just breaking in?


The camera that films anyone who reads the sign? :P
2006-02-28, 5:19 PM #15
It doesn't look very hard to swipe that camera...
"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009
2006-02-28, 5:33 PM #16
Meh, it's just hot-glued on, but it would be useless to anyone who took it. Anyways it hasn't been stolen yet; maybe I'll change the status to "out" and see what happens.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 5:39 PM #17
thats real cool kyle. if that is your real name. you should make more and sell them.
Take that there and put it in here
2006-02-28, 5:56 PM #18
Originally posted by Freelancer:
Heh, detty has a point...the thing says you're out, what's to deter a thief from just breaking in?

Um, the lock on the door?

What I want to know is where the cables go...did you strip the cable and thin them out so they would fit through the side of the door or did you run it downward so that it goes underneath the door?
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2006-02-28, 6:00 PM #19
Originally posted by Freelancer:
It doesn't look very hard to swipe that camera...


You'd have to sneak down the hallway on the floor and slide up the door to keep it from seeing you :p
2006-02-28, 6:13 PM #20
I think you forgot that Freelancer is our resident Gecko.
2006-02-28, 7:12 PM #21
Alright, I've got it set so that it records whenever it detects motion. Let's see anyone try to steal it now!

The cables just go through the crack between the door and the doorframe; there's enough of a gap to fit them through.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 7:36 PM #22
I was gonna say there's a very important state missing there, but I guess it's an unnecessary state for someone who took the time to make that. :)
2006-02-28, 7:40 PM #23
Yes, quite unnecessary. Though it would be funny to have the bottom one be "OMG SEXX0RZING" and have it lit all the time, even when the other ones are on.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 7:40 PM #24
Can you post PLANS?
Epstein didn't kill himself.
2006-02-28, 7:43 PM #25
cool

maybe I'll do something like that too, it wouldn't be to hard.


but I'm probably too lazy or something like that.
“Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.” -G.K. Chesterton
2006-02-28, 8:07 PM #26
No see, what you have to do is put up TWO cameras, with one on the other side of the hallway. Then it will be completely impossible to steal either of them without having your identity COMPROMISED
2006-02-28, 8:26 PM #27
Originally posted by kyle90:
Yes, quite unnecessary. Though it would be funny to have the bottom one be "OMG SEXX0RZING" and have it lit all the time, even when the other ones are on.



Or you could just put "masturbating" cause you know you aren't going to be getting any with something like that on your door.
2006-02-28, 8:29 PM #28
zing!
free(jin);
tofu sucks
2006-02-28, 8:32 PM #29
[http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3271/burnsauce6is.gif]
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.
2006-02-28, 8:39 PM #30
If I had "masturbating" then that'd have to be lit all the time anyways.

Here's a rough sketch of how it's made. It's a pretty simple design actually.

[http://random-m.com/images/1958012820_doorsignplans.PNG]
Stuff
2006-02-28, 8:54 PM #31
Learning LED magic is the stoppage for me.
Epstein didn't kill himself.
2006-02-28, 9:24 PM #32
Are the LEDs activated by toggle switches on the other side?
2006-02-28, 10:19 PM #33
I'd imagine.
So it records when it picks up motion... how do you do that?
Amazing.
And when you get back, you just look at the video it's recorded and watch people walk by, maybe stop and laugh, maybe write "0MG SEXX0RZ!" on it for five minutes or whatever?
Or is it just so you won't have to say "Who's there?" anymore?

-I keed. It's awesome. I'll have to figure out how, though... I've got plenty of cheap crappy webcams...
2006-02-28, 10:24 PM #34
simple relay work. the appearance is what's interesting! pretty clever!
"NAILFACE" - spe
2006-02-28, 10:24 PM #35
Actually I just have bare wires hanging there that plug into a little breadboard to complete the circuit. I think I'm gonna go buy some switches though; that would look a lot nicer.

The camera came with software that will record when it detects motion (it can even do things like set off an alarm or send you an e-mail too, which would be handy for use as a security camera). Unfortunately from what I can see, it doesn't work particularily well. Ah well, can't expect too much considering the price.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 10:30 PM #36
fah. i would so use fancy relays and switches so it's all automated, but i suppose a breadboard works fine for the lazy use.

you could probably use a photo-cell switch for the in-out statuses <.<
"NAILFACE" - spe
2006-02-28, 10:33 PM #37
Well hell, I could just wire the whole damn thing into the parallel port... oh wait... this computer doesn't have one. Haha. Actually the LEDs probably consume a small enough amount of power that you could just run it directly without having any kind of switch in between...

But without a parallel port, I'd have to... I dunno. Probably build a circuit so it could communicate in serial. Bah, that's way too much work.
Stuff
2006-02-28, 10:46 PM #38
Someone is going to destroy that in a drunken rage.
"I got kicked off the high school debate team for saying 'Yeah? Well, **** you!'
... I thought I had won."
2006-02-28, 11:01 PM #39
Originally posted by kyle90:
If I had "masturbating" then that'd have to be lit all the time anyways.

Here's a rough sketch of how it's made. It's a pretty simple design actually.

[edit - lol i took the image out lol]



The only way to counter a burn that heavy is to burn thyself.

Touche' kyle. Touche'.
2006-03-02, 8:22 AM #40
I want one too!
SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
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