A new wireless video camera allows home owners to keep a close eye on their in the same way in which they check their emails or text messages. The SKYCAM is advertized as the first wireless IP camera with Internet connection via Skype, using the popular messaging platform as it would any regular DNS server.
The lets users see its video feed on all devices running Skype, whether they’re a tablet, a smartphone or a laptop. The fact that the video is sent via Skype instead of a server makes the SKYCAM a lot easier to install and a more affordable alternative.
Ready to use after a four-step installation process, the camera is also provided with night vision and two-way voice communication features. This latter feature is particularly useful for people who do not know how to use or set up a computer, according to founder and creator Roger Yiu.
“My grandparents don’t know how to set up a computer and establish a connection and all that, but we can talk to each other with a Skype call if SKYCAM is installed in their house,”
Yiu recently told PCWorld.
Another feature that may appeal to people is the fact that the SKYCAM, unlike traditional wireless IP cameras, offers on-board local storage. This means the camera does not store its video on digital recorders, but on memory cards. The 8GB memory cards are located within the cameras and can store up to 4 days of recordings at the highest resolution.
As for recent criticism of IP cameras being too easy to hack into, Yiu believes his product is a lot harder to hijack than the regular wireless IP video surveillance technology, precisely due to the fact that it uses Skype to communicate and send its feed to users.
he said.“If people can hack Skype, then they can hack SKYCAM. But Skype is a really secure service,”
The SKYCAM founder believes his camera will be mostly used by people who want to monitor their business or their home while they’re away, and those who want to keep an eye on their children or pets. By simply running Skype on their mobile devices while they’re at work or traveling, users can instantly connect to their home and get real-time updates of their property’s situation.
Yiu was quoted as saying in a press release.“SKYCAM takes some of the best aspects of other IP cameras on the market. Then combines them into one affordable high-quality real-time simple solution. Plus, by being the only IP camera that operates through Skype, SKYCAM is in a league of its own,”
The is currently priced at less than $100, but it is yet unclear when it will move into production. Yiu is currently running a crowdfunded campaign for the project on Indiegogo, where it is still pretty far from reaching its $50,000 goal. With only a little over a week to go, the SKYCAM has raised only $4,883.
Tim Eveler
Author & Public Relations – Tim has been working in sales for the home security system industry over twelve years. He’s held positions at large home security companies and in charge of working with the team to create our security system reviews.