Web Cams

[Speedy Claire]

Am wondering what is the law governing webcams??

This morning I was looking at an Aberdeen Harbour live webcam as my son has returned to his ship and if I can I always log onto it when I receive a text from him saying his ship is leaving harbour. That way I can watch his ship leaving (with a little wave and a tear in my eye :()

Is a brilliant webcam and is really clear... in daylight I can see him wave :D However this morning I think my mouse stuck on the pan right button and next thing I was looking thru someone`s house window!!!

I couldn`t see much other than a reflection from the sun but I`m sure at night time you`d be able to see into their front room. Dilemna is should I tell the people who own the webcam as I`m sure this is illegal and I certainly wouldn`t be happy about a webcam pointing into my house or should I leave it in case they take the webcam down and I can no longer watch my son arriving/departing?

[Kate Moss]

ooh thats a tricky one, wouldn't they just reposision the camera rather than take it down all together?

[missyburd]

Hmmm tricky. I know nothing about the laws of webcams but I should imagine the folks who live in the house won't be too chuffed to hear of it. Why doesn't the webcam just stay in a fixed position with just a zoom function in to the harbour? Or is this house the other side of the harbour or something?

I think I'd rather say nothing in your case, your son's waving off is more important to you and you would no doubt sorely miss the luxury of being able to watch him go off (which, btw, is a fantastic idea!)

Maybe there needs to be a poll with this thread?

[Speedy Claire]

Hmmm tricky. I know nothing about the laws of webcams but I should imagine the folks who live in the house won't be too chuffed to hear of it. Why doesn't the webcam just stay in a fixed position with just a zoom function in to the harbour? Or is this house the other side of the harbour or something?

I think I'd rather say nothing in your case, your son's waving off is more important to you and you would no doubt sorely miss the luxury of being able to watch him go off (which, btw, is a fantastic idea!)

Maybe there needs to be a poll with this thread?


Yep maybe I should`ve done a poll... didn`t think of that :(

The webcam does have a zoom into the harbour but it isn`t fixed so`s that you can scan the whole harbour. Chris usually tells me what to look for ie. BP oil things and I can then find his ship. The house I looked into (I think) is to the far right of the harbour, across a road and seems to be a little bit behind the harbour if that makes sense?

I would hope that they`d just reposition the camera but what if that`s not possible and they take the whole thing down :(

[missyburd]

Yep maybe I should`ve done a poll... didn`t think of that :(

The webcam does have a zoom into the harbour but it isn`t fixed so`s that you can scan the whole harbour. Chris usually tells me what to look for ie. BP oil things and I can then find his ship. The house I looked into (I think) is to the far right of the harbour, across a road and seems to be a little bit behind the harbour if that makes sense?

Ah of course, I forgot the harbour will be huge and full of other boats and ships so you will need a scanning option :rolleyes: In that case, I guess there isn't a lot they can do if you told them about the house thing, other than take it down but then you'll lose the privilege :(

Hopefully someone with more technical knowledge will come along soon :)

[Ceri JC]

I'd not bother notifying anyone. If you live opposite a harbour, you'll close your curtains before doing anything you want kept private; lots of sailors, lots of binos and telescopes, a perfect excuse for people to be using them and looking towards the shore? You get my drift ;)

On a related note: my Mum used to watch my brother's ship all the time (big cruise ship with webcams all over the shop). She actually managed to exceed her broadband download limit by leaving the webcam window open all the time and treating the PC as a "window" into my brother's ship.

[Paul the 6th]

....I couldn`t see much other than a reflection from the sun but I`m sure at night time you`d be able to see into their front room.

Could you send me the link please? If you could send me it before or around 5pm that'd be great :)

[Mr Speirs]

You can move a web cam with your mouse?? That's amazing.

What if two people want to look at different things???

[Speedy Claire]

Well it`s not really my mouse moving it I suppose :confused:

I use my mouse to click on pan left/right/up/down controls and then the camera moves to where I want it to go

[Magnum]

No don't say anything.
They may remove the webcam completely, then you can't see your son leave and return!

[Mr Speirs]

Well it`s not really my mouse moving it I suppose :confused:

I use my mouse to click on pan left/right/up/down controls and then the camera moves to where I want it to go

Ha I wasn't taking the **** I didn't know they mounted them to movable thingys.

More inportantly what is two people wanted to view different things on the same camera???

[Speedy Claire]

Well i`ve just found out lol cos Mike was looking too from his computer and as he moved it my view altered too so his command over rode mine

[Luckypants]

and it goes wacky with my Firefox browser. IE installed the correct Active-X control and gives full control of the camera. It is funny when two or more folks try to access it.

[Speedy Claire]

Oh and I`ve decided to say nout despite the fact that you can actually see possibly into 2 different houses now.

I don`t wanna run the risk of having them dismantle the cam and take away my chance to cyberwave my son off on his voyage

[Paul the 6th]

no sign of the link? :)

[Speedy Claire]

no sign of the link? :)


:rolleyes:

[Paul the 6th]

sure I've just seen someone getting mugged... cue the remake of rear window

[Speedy Claire]

I saw 2 seals playing in the harbour this morning then at 4.27 a woman carried her shopping into that small cottage.... she shops at Asda.

What d`ya mean I`m a stalker? :D

[missyburd]

I saw 2 seals playing in the harbour this morning
Can I have the link? :-P

[Baph]

There's no real laws governing the use of webcams, but more so laws regarding privacy. So having the webcam isn't a problem, but what you look at might be.

Perhaps you could suggest the owner of the webcam (harbour master perhaps) modifies the mounting so that the camera cannot pan to places where privacy could be an issue. This could be done under the attempt to prevent future legal proceedings etc which later gets the camera removed anyway.

Personally though, I'd say nowt, not really worth the effort.

(again, Harry has been watching me on the .Org, and wants me to put the following people "in the box", apologies, but sue me :D ....:plod: :smt066 :rave: :smt008 :smt072 )

[missyburd]

Is Harry your little boy Baph? Or imaginary friend? :-P

[Speedy Claire]

Ok thanks Baph... I`d more or less decided to say nothing anyway but I`m sure you`re right re. the privacy aspect.

For Harry............


:smt024 :smt077 :plod: :smt044 :smt065 :smt064 :smt117:smt021:crutches::smt062:stupid: :smt027 :smt070 :smt026 :smt068:smt067

[DarrenSV650S]

If it is the cam I think it is, then there's nothing to see except the reflection of the street. And considering the cam is attached to the building, the people who live there probably know about it anyway

[Speedy Claire]

Cool... I can ignore the issue then. But what about the 2 people in the cottage who looked like they were tossing pancakes or something?

[DarrenSV650S]

Oh that couldn't have been the one I was meaning. Is it attached to the building?

[Speedy Claire]

Erm I`m not sure if it`s attached to the building Darren but the building is white and looks like either a 3 storey house or a block of flats

[Speedy Claire]

You`re right... have just looked and all you can see in that window is the reflection from street so dilemna over and my conscience is clear :-D

[missyburd]

I couldn't see much either :-)

[Nobbylad]

Cool... I can ignore the issue then. But what about the 2 people in the cottage who looked like they were tossing pancakes or something?


[giggle]

Ahem....apologies.:smt083

[Baph]

Is Harry your little boy Baph? Or imaginary friend? :-P

He's my little lad, 4 year old, loves the little "stickers of people" at the side of the posting box.

Nothing to do with the thread though, sorry. :)

[Speedy Claire]

[giggle]

Ahem....apologies.:smt083


nope... one of them was defo catching something :D

[missyburd]

He's my little lad, 4 year old, loves the little "stickers of people" at the side of the posting box.

Nothing to do with the thread though, sorry. :)

Hehe I figured, was too cute for an imaginary friend :-D