Motion Sensors

Virtual Surfing Gets Personal

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:31:20 +0000

A new video surfing game, “Waikiki Surf Challenge,” is a PC-compatible game in which the player(s) try to score as many points as possible by hitting floating tikis while maneuvering on a threatening wave complete with man-eating sharks and treacherous reefs. The graphics and animation are all up to par with other top-selling surfing video games and operation is via the computer keyboard arrows or one’s favorite compatible game control. Points are also scored by tricks the rider is able to perform… like aerials, cutbacks, and floaters… just like the real thing.

Some might have experienced the video surfing game through a company which rents it out complete with real surfboards mounted on motion sensors to control the movement of the on-screen surfer. And while the original surf simulators are out of reach for most of us, “Waikiki Surf Challenge” is the actual game used by this company offered in what might be considered a mini-version of the original! It might seem that taking away the real surfboard controls would put this game into the realm of the ordinary. However, “Waikiki Surf Challenge” is unique in a sea of similar products based on the personalization options it offers.

Messages like a birthday wish on the opening and closing banners of the game… a message and photo appearing in the background that’s seen between the waves’ rise and fall… and, most notably, a talking surfer bearing the customer’s head and message that appears every time a wipeout occurs make the game almost as fun for spectators as it is for the players. The personalization is accomplished by customers, when purchasing a game, provide their desired message and photo which the company then incorporates into the game graphics prior to shipping it out to them.

The game is available to both individual users as well as companies or organizations that might wish to utilize the personalization options for advertising and promotional purposes.

The author, Richard Young, is the creator of hawaiibeachcombers.com, a website about Hawaii beaches. The site offers a number of ideas for business opportunities including a Surf Simulator, which is available for purchase or lease.

Outdoor Security Camera Lighting & Economy Tips

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:32:34 +0000

One of the biggest tasks faced by outdoor security cameras is the varying degrees of lighting and visibility conditions they have to contend with. There are many answers to the visibility problem such as Night vision and infrared upgrades for your security camera. However and option that is generally over looked is the addition of an outdoor security light. Sound simple? Well it is!

Outdoor Security lights are nothing new or spectacular but you can use these simple devices to provide a cheap method of nighttime security. Most of you will be aware of security light motion sensors, in fact many of you will likely have one of these devices hanging on your porch to light the door for you when you arrive home late. But very few people realize you can link these to your security camera to create a very handy little device.

The best thing about security lights like this is, they introduce you to setting up your security camera to be fully automated by motion sensors. Purchasing higher range motion sensors that detect motion up to 30 meters away you can configure your outdoor security camera to only record when movement is detected. Then under low lighting conditions the security light will kick in to provide light directly when needed. This set up can make your whole security system extremely economical and save your having to go through lots and lots of footage.

One clever trick people have adopted is to set up motion sensors near all entrances to a property. Any movement picked up turns every security camera on the property for a full 10 minutes. This is an example of how additional technology can make your security system very eco friendly.

Another item security lights introduced to us was the concept of solar panels. This is yet another eco friendly idea security lighting has provided. Traditionally a solar panel will be attached to the top of the light charging its batteries throughout the day providing it to run throughout the night without costing you a thing. We have taken this a step further and with the addition of a slightly larger solar panel, charged both the light and camera sufficiently to run through the night. It is wise however to connect the camera to an additional power supply just encase it fails to charge fully. You don’t want to miss hat all-important moment due to a dead battery.

Information about Outdoor Security Camera Systems provided by Mark Broom to offer you information regarding outdoor security camera optional upgrades.

DVR Surveillance System Tips

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:35:16 +0000

DVR surveillance systems do not have to be expensive. Security systems are not exclusive to big, beautiful homes. If you want to protect your loved ones with a DVR surveillance system, here’s what you can do.

Important Components of a Basic Security System

Your home’s security system need not be loaded with high-end equipment in order to be effective. Combine strategic installation with proper safety awareness and orientation for your loved ones and they’re as secure as they can be.

A basic security system would have motion sensors, a CCTV camera, security lights, and a multiplexer. The latter is needed if you are managing more than one security camera in your system. With a multiplexer, video input from all cameras are combined into a single channel for organized record-keeping and more effective surveillance.

A simplex multiplexer will show you one full-screen image at a time while continuing to record footage from other cameras. Duplex multiplexers, on the other hand, offer split-screen options for two or more monitored areas.

If you have money to spare, invest in decoy equipment not only for your cameras but for your DVR devices as well. Purchase any used VCR, wire it, and install them in plain sight.

Choosing a DVR Device

Cost is understandably most people’s primary concerns when it comes to DVR devices. But if you compare its performance to that of VCRs, you’ll know that DVR is truly the better choice. VCRs not only produce inferior video quality but they are also unable to produce stream-by-stream separation.

If you are shopping for DVR devices, you’ll have three main options to choose from.

The most expensive option, but undeniably the most feature-rich as well, would be a dedicated DVR. It’s about the size of a desktop computer and comes with its own monitor. It is slightly more complicated to install compared to other DVD options but you can always contact customer service for help.

A second and more affordable option would be to install a DVR card in your CPU and turn your computer into a video recording system. If you know your way with computers, you won’t have to pay for professional installation. This is virtually the same with installing a new video or memory card.

Finally, you can simply install a program or hardware tool in your computer for a DVD interface. It’s a fraction of what a dedicated server would cost but its functions are vastly limited. With this option, you can only view and store footage. But if this is all you wish to do then it’s the best DVR device for your needs.

If you want to get a cheap and user-friendly DVR surveillance system, more from HiddenPinholeCameras.com.

Home Security Motion Sensors – How They Work

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:37:27 +0000

Home security motion sensors are sophisticated and fascinating pieces of technology.

The motion sensors used in home security systems are known a PIR motion sensors. The PIR stands for Passive Infrared, because they detect infrared energy from humans.

The skin on your body is about 93 degrees F., and generated infrared energy at about the range of 9 to 10 micrometers in wave length. So the home security motion sensors are designed to “pick up” that energy, in a range of say, 8 to 12 micrometers.

The infrared energy “bumps” electrons off a substrate, and this is converted and amplified into a signal which sets off your burglar alarm. The reason it detects MOTION, and not someone merely standing still is because it is designed to detect CHANGES in infrared energy, not just the energy itself. When a person moves in the path of the PIR sensor, the infrared energy they give off changes, and that is what is detected. Amazing, no?

If you think that is sophisticated, get this: It also only detects RAPID changes, as caused by a person walking past the “beam”. That’s so that it’s not set off by slow temperature changes, such as a room heating up during the day, or cooling down during the night.

Infrared energy is a form of light, and the reason that home security motion sensors can cover a wide path is because they use lenses to scatter a wide area. Wanna know how much area a motion sensor covers? Just stand in the corner of a room in your home, hold your head still, and the amount of area that you can see with your human eyes is approximately the area that the home security motion sensor can “see”. Is that cool, or what?

By the way, you might wonder why the motion sensor isn’t “set off” by motion from outside the house, like someone walking by a window. The reason is that infrared energy simply doesn’t pass through glass well. Glass is what we call “transparent” to regular light, like we see with. But amazingly, glass is not very “transparent” to infrared light. It’s a good thing, or your home security system would be set off every time someone walked by your house. Not good.

You gotta see www.HomeSecurityFacts.com to compare Home Security Companies, and get lots of information for your home’s security.

Take Advantage Of The Unique Capabilities Of The Nintendo Wii Console While Gaming

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:40:20 +0000

Nintendo Wii is a small powerful gaming console with beautiful graphics and intuitive game play. Its interactivity helping people to get off from their couch and move and play with the console.

Nintendo wii games are different from other computer games. Instead of just moving the fingers it encourages children to physically play action games. There are inbuilt motion sensors, which allow the player to control the characters and actions on the screen. Also, Wii remote is wand shaped which all children like. This unique concept is closely watched by other manufacturers which would lead to a healthy competition in the computer games industry. In near future, the market will be flooded with computer games that would claim to reduce certain calories if that game is played for a certain time period.

Nintendo Wii Games – Nintendo has ventured off the beaten path with its newest system, and the company knows it. While the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 both emphasize their impressive graphical capabilities, Nintendo downplays the importance of graphics on its new console, the Nintendo Wii. While the Sony and Microsoft consoles keep the branding of their respective predecessors, the oddly named Nintendo Wii is a semantic departure from Nintendo’s more literally named 2001 console, the GameCube. And while the PS3 and the Xbox 360 both use conventional gamepads bristling with buttons, control sticks, and directional pads, the Nintendo Wii uses a device that looks more like a TV remote than a gamepad to control its games

Many people love the games from the Nintendo Wii because they provide thrills and involvement that other systems do not replicate. An Xbox game, for example, merely requires the player to sit and engage with the video game while on the couch or floor. Nintendo Wii games, on the other hand, require the player to stand up and actively play the video game in his or her home.

If you want to buy the complete Nintendo Wii game in the official packaging then Amazon is the place to go. Amazon’s usual price for Nintendo Wii games is as low as you will find it on other sites but their “best price” is excellent value. Sometimes you can get boxed Nintendo Wii games for as low as half price. But you need to keep an eye on the Nintendo Wii games you are after. When their price drops you grab them. The Amazon “Best Price” for Nintendo Wii games are always fluctuating so keep watching till you get the price you want.

The Nintendo prices for the games are reasonable. The Nintendo Wii is one of the most affordable consoles around today, offering the full system and a few games for a third of the price of the Xbox or Play station 3 systems. Nintendo prices have always been quite good, but the Nintendo Wii games are truly affordable.

Rashid Kotwal writes about technology and how it can be used to enhance your life. For more information about the Nintendo Wii and what it can do, head over to http://whybuyawii.com

Sylvania 72422 LED Undercabinet Light with Motion Sensor Function, 3 Pack, Black