Webcam System Research Articles

Real-Time Web-based Dashboard using Firebase for Automated Object Detection Applied on Conveyor

Conveyors are used by many factories in the industrial sector as tools to move some materials through various processes. Currently, it is necessary to have a device which is connected to a conveyor using a digital system. In this study, a conveyor is designed to use a webcam with a deep learning image classification system, Firebase real-time database, and a web-based dashboard. The webcam is used to capture and classify objects based on shape, color, and status, as well as counting objects that run on the conveyor. Firebase real-time database will receive and store data from the webcam system in real-time so that the data can be displayed on the dashboard. The dashboard used is a website-based design using two web development systems: front-end and back-end. Data displayed on the dashboard uses a real-time data table which is capable of displaying real-time data. Testing is conducted to analyze the performance of the full prototype. Testing methods used are One-by-one Object Test and Sequential Object Test, with total of 20 tests. One-by-one Object test is conducted five times, with a total of 168 data and a total time of 12 minutes and 15 seconds. Meanwhile, Sequential Object test is conducted 15 times, with a total of 546 data and a total time of 7 minutes and 19 seconds. Based on the observations of functional dashboard test, in fact all features and buttons on the dashboard are functioned well.

Real-time Ball Detection and Tracking using Raspberry PI

This paper presents a real-time system for ball detection and tracking system which is reliable in any conditions. Images from the webcam are processed by openCV library running on a Raspberry Pi to move the camera pan and tilt servo and two DC motors to drive the robot body using the Arduino Nano microcontroller. The webcam is integrated in a robot prototype to represent the wheel football robot type. The results show that a ball tracking webcam system is obtained with the capability to detect a ball with a diameter of 17cm within a maximum distance of 200 cm, a stable ball reading when the light intensity is at 32 lux and above. Furthermore, the experimental results demonstrated the system’s robustness in detecting and tracking ball in different distance and ligthing conditions.

Webcam Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the First Year of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns of webcam use in families of patients admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the first year of the pandemic and characterize the families who used the technology. Retrospective chart review of the medical records and logins of our live webcam system was conducted for 2020. From January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, 843 infants were admitted to the NICU, with lengths of stay range of 1 to 169 days. More than half (n = 496, 58.8%) of all families of infants admitted to the NICU used the webcam system during the period of study. The number of webcam users did not change between the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and during COVID-19 time periods, or during versus after NICU visitor restrictions. Among webcam users, the median (interquartile range) number of logins per day was 2.9 (2.9) and ranged from 0 to 44. There were significant differences among races, site of admission, and diagnosis groups. Families of White infants had more frequent use compared with families of Black infants. Families of infants admitted for surgical reasons had more frequent use compared with those admitted for medical reasons. Among 284 of the 496 (57.3%) webcam users, we documented logins from 37 states in the United States and from 10 different countries. Webcam use is common in the NICU. There was no increase in webcam use within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the NICU. More studies are needed to evaluate how this technology is used in the NICU and its impact on patients and families. · Webcam use in the NICU is common.. · Visitor restrictions did not increase webcam use.. · We observed racial differences in webcam use..

Parental preference for webcams in neonatal intensive care units: an indicator of lacking trust?

BackgroundSome neonatal intensive care units offer parents webcam systems for times when they cannot be in the ward. Leaving an infant in the ward can be challenging for parents, and trust in the neonatal healthcare professionals mitigates parents’ worries of not knowing how their infant is doing while they are away. If parents lack trust in the neonatal healthcare professionals, they may attempt to compensate by using webcams. In this work, we examine whether an association exists between the parental preference to use a webcam and low trust in physicians and nursing staff.MethodsIn a nationwide, retrospective cross-sectional study, parents of infants with a birth weight below 1500 g were surveyed six to 18 months after their infant’s birth. Parents who were not offered a webcam system in the ward were asked whether they would have opted for it. Trust was measured by the Trust in Physician and Trust in Nursing Staff scales.ResultsOf the parents who were not offered a webcam, 69% would have chosen to use a webcam if they had been granted the opportunity. The decision for or against a webcam was not significantly associated with either trust in physicians (OR = 0.654, 95% CI = 0.456, 0.937, p = .124) or trust in nursing staff (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 0.783, 1.446, p = .932).ConclusionsWhile the majority of parents surveyed would opt for webcam usage, this preference should not be interpreted as an indicator of lacking trust in neonatal healthcare professionals.

Driving new technologies in hospitals: association of organizational and personal factors with the readiness of neonatal intensive care unit staff toward webcam implementation

BackgroundThe use of webcam technology in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) enables parents to see their child when the parents cannot be present at the NICU. The webcam’s use has been gaining increasing attention. Lead physicians and lead nursing staff play a key role in the decision of whether to implement webcams. This study investigates factors that are associated with the readiness for the implementation of a webcam system among lead NICU staff.MethodsA postal survey was conducted among all lead physicians and lead nursing staff in all German NICUs between December 2020 and April 2021 (total N = 416, one lead physician and one lead nursing staff per NICU, N = 208). On the basis of normalization process theory, personal (technology acceptance) and organizational (innovation climate) attributes were chosen to determine their association with the readiness for the implementation of a webcam system. The association of these factors was determined using multiple linear regression models for both lead physicians and lead nurses.ResultsOverall, a response rate of 66.59% (n = 277) was achieved. Technology acceptance proved to be a significant factor associated with the readiness for the implementation of a webcam system among lead physicians. Furthermore, staff already working with webcams in their NICUs indicated a significantly higher level of technology acceptance than staff without webcam experience and without any desire to use a webcam in the future. No significant association was found between innovation climate and the readiness for the implementation of a webcam system.ConclusionsTechnology acceptance was identified as a factor associated with the readiness for the implementation of a webcam system. The insights from this study can be used to manage potential barriers regarding the readiness for implementation of webcams in NICUs.Trial registrationThe Neo-CamCare study is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register. DRKS-ID: DRKS00017755. Date of Registration in DRKS: 25-09-2019.

Webcam use in German neonatological intensive care units: an interview study on parental expectations and experiences

BackgroundTo bridge the physical distance between parents and children during a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, webcams are used in few German NICUs. They allow parents to view their infant even when they cannot be present on the ward. The aim of the study was to explore the factors for and against webcam use that parents with or without webcam use encountered.MethodsGuideline-based, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in the period from September 2019 to August 2020. Interview transcripts were analysed using a category-based content analysis. The categories were generated in a combined deductive–inductive procedure.ResultsWe interviewed 33 mothers and seven fathers. Parents with webcam experience emphasised positive aspects concerning their webcam use. Factors that increased webcam acceptance included feeling certain about the child’s well-being and an increased sense of proximity. Only a few critical voices emerged from parents who had webcam experience, e.g. regarding privacy concerns.Parents who had no experience with webcam use showed ambivalence. On the one hand, they expressed a positive attitude towards the webcam system and acknowledged that webcam use could result in feelings of control. On the other hand, reservations emerged concerning an increase of mental stress or a negative influence on parental visitation behaviour.ConclusionIn addition to the parents’ positive experiences with webcam use, results show a need within parents who lacked webcam experience. Despite some criticism, it was evident that webcam use was primarily seen as an opportunity to counteract the negative consequences of separation in the postnatal phase.Trial registrationThe Neo-CamCare study is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register.DRKS-ID: DRKS00017755.Date of Registration in DRKS: 25-09-2019.

Sensitivity of a Video Surveillance System Based on Motion Detection

The implementation of a stand-alone system developed in JAVA language for motion detection has been discussed. The open-source OpenCV library has been adopted for video surveillance image processing thus implementing Background Subtraction algorithm also known as foreground detection algorithm. Generally the region of interest of a body or object to detect is related to a precise objects (people, cars, etc.) emphasized on a background. This technique is widely used for tracking a moving objects. In particular, the BackgroundSubtractorMOG2 algorithm of OpenCV has been applied. This algorithm is based on Gaussian distributions and offers better adaptability to different scenes due to changes in lighting and the detection of shadows as well. The implemented webcam system relies on saving frames and creating GIF and JPGs files with previously saved frames. In particular the Background Subtraction function, find Contours, has been adopted to detect the contours. The numerical quantity of these contours has been compared with the tracking points of sensitivity obtained by setting an user-modifiable slider able to save the frames as GIFs composed by different merged JPEGs. After a full design of the image processing prototype different motion test have been performed. The results showed the importance to consider few sensitivity points in order to obtain more frequent image storages also concerning minor movements. Sensitivity points can be modified through a slider function and are inversely proportional to the number of saved images. For small object in motion will be detected a low percentage of sensitivity points. Experimental results proves that the setting condition are mainly function of the typology of moving object rather than the light conditions. The proposed prototype system is suitable for video surveillance smart camera in industrial systems.

Sequential webcam monitoring and modeling of marine debris abundance

The amount of marine debris washed ashore on a beach in Newport, Oregon, USA was observed automatically and sequentially using a webcam system. To investigate potential causes of the temporal variability of marine debris abundance, its time series was compared with those of satellite-derived wind speeds and sea surface height off the Oregon coast. Shoreward flow induced by downwelling-favorable southerly winds increases marine debris washed ashore on the beach in winter. We also found that local sea-level rise caused by westerly winds, especially at spring tide, moved the high-tide line toward the land, so that marine debris littered on the beach was likely to re-drift into the ocean. Seasonal and sub-monthly fluctuations of debris abundance were well reproduced using a simple numerical model driven by satellite-derived wind data, with significant correlation at 95% confidence level.

Sensitivity of a Video Surveillance System Based on Motion Detection

The implementation of a stand-alone system developed in JAVA language for motion detection has been discussed. The open-source OpenCV library has been adopted for video surveillance image processing thus implementing Background Subtraction algorithm also known as foreground detection algorithm. Generally the region of interest of a body or object to detect is related to a precise objects (people, cars, etc.) emphasized on a background. This technique is widely used for tracking a moving objects. In particular, the BackgroundSubtractorMOG2 algorithm of OpenCV has been applied. This algorithm is based on Gaussian distributions and offers better adaptability to different scenes due to changes in lighting and the detection of shadows as well. The implemented webcam system relies on saving frames and creating GIF and JPGs files with previously saved frames. In particular the Background Subtraction function, find Contours, has been adopted to detect the contours. The numerical quantity of these contours has been compared with the tracking points of sensitivity obtained by setting an user-modifiable slider able to save the frames as GIFs composed by different merged JPEGs. After a full design of the image processing prototype different motion test have been performed. The results showed the importance to consider few sensitivity points in order to obtain more frequent image storages also concerning minor movements. Sensitivity points can be modified through a slider function and are inversely proportional to the number of saved images. For small object in motion will be detected a low percentage of sensitivity points. Experimental results proves that the setting condition are mainly function of the typology of moving object rather than the light conditions. The proposed prototype system is suitable for video surveillance smart camera in industrial systems.

Effectiveness of a simple and real-time baseline shift monitoring system during stereotactic body radiation therapy of lung tumors

PurposeThis study aimed to clinically validate a simple real-time baseline shift monitoring system in a prospective study of consecutive patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of lung tumors, and to investigate baseline shift due to intrafraction motion of the patient’s body during lung SBRT. MethodsTen consecutive patients with peripheral lung tumors were treated by SBRT consisting of four fractions of 12 Gy each, with a total dose of 48 Gy. During treatment, each patient’s geometric displacement in the anterior–posterior and left–right directions (the baseline shift) was measured using a real-time monitoring webcam system. Displacement between the start and end of treatment was measured using an X-ray fluoroscopic imaging system. The displacement measurements of the two systems were compared, and the measurements of baseline shift acquired by the monitoring system during treatment were analyzed for all patients. ResultsThere was no significant deviation between the monitoring system and the X-ray imaging system, with the accuracy of measurement being within 1 mm. Measurements using the monitoring system showed that 7 min of treatment generated displacements of more than 1 mm in 50% of the patients. ConclusionsBaseline shift of a patient’s body may be measured accurately in real time, using a monitoring system without X-ray exposure. The manubrium of the sternum is a good location for measuring the baseline shift of a patient’s body at all times. The real-time monitoring system may be useful for measuring the baseline shift of a patient’s body independently of a gating system.

Weather Webcam System for the Safety of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Miyazaki, Japan

ObjectiveIn Japan, the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) system was initiated in 2001 and introduced to Miyazaki Prefecture in 2012. Mountainous areas occupy 88% of Miyazaki’s land area, and HEMS flights can be subject to the effects of weather. Therefore, ensuring safety in changing weather conditions is a necessity for HEMS. MethodsThe weather webcam system (WWS) was established to observe the meteorological conditions in 29 locations. Assessments of the probability of a flight based on conventional data including a weather chart provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency and meteorological reports provided by the Miyazaki Airport were compared with the assessment based on the combination of the information obtained from the WWS and the conventional data. ResultsThe results showed that the probability of a flight by HEMS increased when using the WSS, leading to an increased transportation opportunity for patients in the mountains who rely on HEMS. In addition, the results indicate that the WWS may prevent flights in unfavorable weather conditions. ConclusionThe WWS used in conjunction with conventional weather data within Miyazaki HEMS increased the pilot’s awareness of current weather conditions throughout the Prefecture, increasing the probability of accepting a flight.

Smartphone-based colorimetric ELISA implementation for determination of women's reproductive steroid hormone profiles.

Biologists frequently collect and analyze biospecimens in naturalistic (i.e., field) conditions to ascertain information regarding the physiological status of their study participants. Generally, field-collected biospecimens need to be stored frozen in the field and then transported frozen to laboratory facilities where traditional biomarker assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are conducted. As proper storage and transport of frozen specimens is often logistically difficult and expensive, particularly in nonurban field settings, methods that reduce the need for specimen storage and transport would benefit field-research dependent disciplines such as biology, ecology and epidemiology. One limiting factor to running assays in the field is the use of large and expensive equipment to visualize and quantify the assays, such as microplate readers. Here, we describe an implementation of colorimetric ELISA visualization and quantification using two novel and portable imaging instrumentation systems and data processing techniques for the determination of women's reproductive steroid hormone profiles. Using the light absorbance and transmittance properties of the chemical compounds that make up the hormone assay, we were able to estimate unknown hormone concentrations using a smartphone system and a webcam system. These estimates were comparable to those from a standard laboratory multiple reader (smartphone: accuracy=82.20%, R 2>0.910; webcam: accuracy=87.59%, R 2>0.942). This line of applied research, in the long run, is expected to provide necessary information for examining the extent to which reproductive function varies within and between populations and how it is influenced by psychosocial, energetic and environmental challenges. Our validation of these novel, portable visualization and quantification systems allows for the eventual development of a compact and economical closed system which can be used to quantify biomarker concentrations in remote areas.

High-resolution photo-mosaic time-series imagery for monitoring human use of an artificial reef.

Successful marine management relies on understanding patterns of human use. However, obtaining data can be difficult and expensive given the widespread and variable nature of activities conducted. Remote camera systems are increasingly used to overcome cost limitations of conventional labour‐intensive methods. Still, most systems face trade‐offs between the spatial extent and resolution over which data are obtained, limiting their application. We trialed a novel methodology, CSIRO Ruggedized Autonomous Gigapixel System (CRAGS), for time series of high‐resolution photo‐mosaic (HRPM) imagery to estimate fine‐scale metrics of human activity at an artificial reef located 1.3 km from shore. We compared estimates obtained using the novel system to those produced with a web camera that concurrently monitored the site. We evaluated the effect of day type (weekday/weekend) and time of day on each of the systems and compared to estimates obtained from binocular observations. In general, both systems delivered similar estimates for the number of boats observed and to those obtained by binocular counts; these results were also unaffected by the type of day (weekend vs. weekday). CRAGS was able to determine additional information about the user type and party size that was not possible with the lower resolution webcam system. However, there was an effect of time of day as CRAGS suffered from poor image quality in early morning conditions as a result of fixed camera settings. Our field study provides proof of concept of use of this new cost‐effective monitoring tool for the remote collection of high‐resolution large‐extent data on patterns of human use at high temporal frequency.

A Comparison of the Performance of Webcam vs. Infrared Eye Tracking Technology

This study compares results obtained using the SMI infrared and Sticky webcam eye tracking technologies. Participants viewed a series of images twice, once using each technology. A comparison of the results shows that the infrared equipment is more accurate for smaller images, particularly those farther from the center of the screen. Infrared technology is also a better option when it is important to capture dwell time. For larger images, however, the webcam technology achieved accuracy similar to SMI infrared in capturing the percent of participants who fixated on a particular stimulus. For testing that uses reasonably sized images and avoids the periphery of the screen, the webcam system appears to be a viable alternative for determining whether the stimulus is noted. This finding has implications for how eye tracking may be used as part of market research and usability testing.

A real time visual demonstration of the oral surgical procedures using a webcam system

IntroductionIn many dental schools, traditionally, the undergraduate students undertake surgical procedures only after a brief course of didactic lectures and live clinical demonstrations. Though live demonstrations are preferred by the students, they regularly complain about an inadequate field of view due to limited visual access to the operating area. Hence, this method of demonstration has various limitations from the students’, instructors’, and the patients’ point of view. An effective clinical teaching modality could be achieved by using surgical cameras that can be fixed to the dental chair light unit for live demonstration and recording of the surgical procedures. However, commercially available surgical cameras are not cost-effective and hence not always affordable by teaching institutions. Methods and materialsThis paper describes a simple, cost-effective technique for real time visual demonstration of the surgical procedures using a high-resolution webcam which is fixed to the center of the dental chair light unit and is connected to a computer via USB and the webcam software is installed in the computer. ResultsThis arrangement can be used for live demonstration and also for video recordings. Currently, we have implemented the technique in demonstration of intraoral injection procedures and found it to be very successful. ConclusionThis simple and cost-effective method of real time visual demonstration of the surgical procedure creates a balance between the live demonstration and videotaped teaching with an added interactive component between the students and the instructor.

Perceptions of webcams in the neonatal intensive care unit: here's looking at you kid!

Many tertiary neonatal units employ a restricted visiting policy. Webcams have previously been implemented in the neonatal unit setting in several countries. This study aims to determine the views from parents, physicians, and nursing staff before implementation of a webcam system. A questionnaire-based study. There were 101 responses. Parental computer usage was 83%. The majority of parents indicated that they would use the webcam system. Parents felt that a webcam system would reduce stress. Members of the nursing staff were most concerned about privacy risks (68%), compared with parents who were confident in the security of these systems (92%, p-value < 0.001). Seventy two percent of nurses felt that a webcam system would increase the stress levels of staff as compared with less than 20% of the physicians (p-value < 0.001). The majority of parents who completed the questionnaire have positive attitudes toward implementation of a webcam system in the NICU. Education of health care staff is required before implementation.

Real Time Recognition of Elderly Daily Activity using Fuzzy Logic through Fusion of Motion and Location Data

One of the major problems that may encounter old people at home is falling. Approximately, one of three adults of the age of 65 or older falls every year. The World Health Organization reports that injuries due to falls are the third most common cause of chronic disability. In this paper, we proposed an approach to indoor human daily activity recognition, which combines motion and location data by using a webcam system, with a particular interest to the problem of fall detection. The proposed system identifies the face and the body in a given area, collects motion data such as face and body speeds and location data such as center of mass and aspect ratio; then the extracted parameters will be fed to a Fuzy logic classifier that classify the fall event in two classes: fall and not fall.

Development of a Real-Time Task Editable Service-Oriented Security Robot

Robots are widely used in modern industrial manufacturing, in households, in entertainment, and in the security sector. Recently, because of the complexity of household-robot missions remotely controlled by the host, the development of a real-time task editable service-oriented security robot that may efficiently execute routine missions by avoiding advance instruction is necessary In this paper, an intelligent and interactive security robot is developed. In order to remotely manipulate the robot’s movements, both the PC-base’s TCP/IP protocol and the Web-base with an active server page (ASP) function via an access point (AP) are adopted. To facilitate targeted functions, interactivity in conjunction with high quality sensors plays an essential role. To avoid colliding with a barrier, an ultrasonic sensor is installed on both sides of the security robot. By using infrared sensors, the electric charge station can be detected. Additionally, electrical devices used in a home equipped with RF receivers can be remotely manipulated by receiving signals transmitted from the RF transmitter of the security robot. Moreover, for security purposes, an infrared sensor installed in the security robot is used to detect a house invasion by an unwanted intruder, causing both the alarm and the web-camera to be triggered simultaneously. Here, in order to deal with all signals, a 8051 microchip connected to the robot’s mother board is used. The 8051 microchip will receive the signals (Web-Cam system, the infrared sensor, the body infrared sensor, and the ultrasonic sensor) and trigger the devices (Web-Cam system’ motor, wheel’s motors, alarm system, and RF-transmitter) Consequently, a prototype security robot has been manufactured and successfully tested in the laboratory

Virtual sites performance and materialization

The imagistic promotion of the iconic city form is increasingly achieved by the deployment of the CCTV webcam system. This not only presents new material to mediate people's engagement with this space, but also offers new ways to materialize its actual three-dimensional form. Recent design-based research conducted at the University of Technology, Sydney, shows that the function of the CCTV Internet cameras can be extended and adapted to provide a type of engagement with urban environments that subverts its more representational role and converts it into one that is qualitative and experiential. The article will discuss how the performative aspects offered by this virtual environment can be productively employed by the Internet user to not only create a new type of engagement with public space, but also, ultimately, to curate this space. The article will also reveal how the strategic deployment of recently developed non-proprietary software can be used to intervene within the operational logic of the Internet camera to exploit its potential for use as a design tool. By the strategic recruitment of this software, raw virtual qualitative data from webcam images are processed to generate a formal response to civic space. This type of intervention, which utilizes the two-dimensional image as a platform for intervention within three-dimensional space, asks the designer to relinquish the techniques traditionally used to generate urban form and instead to capitalize upon the opportunities for material intervention offered by the spatial ambiguity of virtual and real-time environments. The exploration of the distortional optical properties associated with contemporary camera technology begins to suggest the development of a range of new techniques for design intervention that will continue to evolve in direct relationship to the technology they exploit. This article will therefore discuss how the utilization of the interactive potential of the CCTV system can produce a new understanding of urban space that replaces any symbolic role for form with the affect of form. This range of unprecedented techniques can be seen to offer a new paradigm for material intervention within both virtual and urban space.

Demonstrating the challenges of behaving with emotional intelligence in a team setting: an on-line/on-ground experiential exercise

The idea of this new exercise is to involve two project team participants in an interpersonal conflict in front of a classroom of learner/observers and then to debrief the entire experience in terms of emotional intelligence (EI) concepts in a way that clarifies these concepts experientially. It is preceded by EI readings and may be followed by extended on-line discussions and a variety of different papers and/or homework assignments. It can be used in traditional, blended learning (BL), or on-line courses or training classrooms. Originally developed to involve on-ground (face-to-face) and on-line students from the same course in the same exercise either synchronously or asynchronously, it utilizes a webcam and electronic blackboard system such as generally available in all universities as well as an original survey tool to facilitate the debrief. Advantages of on-line processing of experiential exercises and some potentially inherent differences in the two methods as well as use of video clips in enriche...