Mobile Surveillance. Video Surveillance Devices

Mobile phones have come a long way from the time when they were introduced as just another communicating device. Gone are the days when cell phones could be used only for calling or text messaging. With a bevy of new, exciting and immensely useful applications being introduced in cell phones, they are no longer considered to be a commodity of luxury; rather, they are now a commodity of necessity. Gaming, cameras, music players, portable radios, internet access, GPRS tracking – name it and you’ll not be disappointed; cell phones offer all of these facilities. The latest technology that has been introduced in cell phones is the ability to use them as . Easy to set up and easier to operate, video surveillance using mobile phones is much more discreet, cost-effective and effective, especially if you have to be on a look out for your children from your office. Besides providing you with a sense of assurance and security of your loved ones, these mobile surveillance devices can also alert you to any suspicious activity in your house in time to take proper preventive measures.

For working parents, the well being of their children whom they have to often leave alone at home, is a big headache. It is not possible for them to check on them at frequent intervals, especially with an overwhelming office workload and demanding schedules. Again, entrusting their children with professional babysitters or nannies can be an option, but it is really too much to expect from any parent to be contended with handing over their children to a total stranger. In cases where the child has to stay at home alone, there could be a number of potential risks that may arise. Under these circumstances, easy video surveillance using mobiles is indeed a blessing for all those parents, who can now take a peek into their homes and their children whenever they want, even from work.

A number of companies have introduced several technologies which allow individuals to use their mobile phones for video surveillance using various technologies. For example, U.K. based Pedagogg offers IRIS camera which utilizes its UMA-wireless network to stream live video transmissions in rich media format. The IRIS can send the video over any kind of network, be it 2.5G, or 3G or even Wi-fi.  A 2.5G phone with Java enabled features is more than enough to utilize the features offered by this technology. The IRIS basically uses motion sensing as well as infrared technology to capture movement. In case it detects any movement, the camera will capture the video and transmit it over the web through a secured network. Once the user is alerted by a text message, he or she can use the cell phone to view the live video transmission. Video storage facility is also provided.

Apart from this, there is also Cratima’s 3^rd i-solution, which provides  a real time video monitoring facility. However, the catch here is that GPRS coverage is required, as is access to a specialized Cratima server, which adjusts the frames per second rate and the rate of video compression and buffering to fit each individual device. D-Link’s DCS 2120 is another service provider for video surveillance through cell phones. Even though it provides several facilities such as low-light surveillance and a decent zooming lens, a PDA or a 3-G enabled cell phone is a pre-requisite, as is a broadband or Ethernet connection.