Camera system helps elderly remain independent

ENS’ visual movement sensor incorporates an IP camera and secure wireless connection to alert caregivers to inactivity within the home.

Operations director John Dias told The Engineer that the IP camera (supplied by Richmond-based Y-Cam) looks for moving objects on the video source. 

‘The server receives a stream of frames [images] captured from the IP camera and the system’s algorithm gathers information about moving objects such as size and trajectory,’ he said via email. ‘Then it compares the next frames for some level of change. Depending on the degree of change - or not - a trigger alert is sent to the carer regarding activity or, more importantly, non-activity.’

The signal from the camera is protected with a username and password. Dias said the signal could not be broken in a ‘brute force attack’ but could theoretically be ‘sniffed’, a practice whereby software scans and records passwords that are used or broadcasted on a computer or network interface.