VB Programmer needed for small part of project

[max_carpenter]

Hi everyone, I am really struggling with this part of my project and need some help. I am willing to pay someone to do this part of my program but I need it urgently (IE this week)

Basically I am needing someone to design an App that can take pictures using the webcam,, Well actually I need it to be able to take pictures via ManyCam software which is a virtual webcam that connects to your webcam and allows multiple programmes to access the cam at the same time. You can download ManyCam for free from: http://www.manycam.com/

The program needs to be hidden and not show anything on screen and automatically be able to take pictures every 5 seconds and save them as a file (JPG/PNG best but BMP will do).

If at all possible would be better to run as a Windows service but not sure that can bedone so a Windows Forms App is fine as long as no form is required to be shown or any pictures be shown it needs to all run hidden.

Requirements:

> VB.Net (.Net 2 or .Net 3.5)
> Run Hidden
> Take pictures every 5 seconds
> Save pictures as either JPG/PNG/BMP
> No pop ups asking user to select webcam/fps/other settings
> Each picture must have a different filename to this spec: (filename = "WCI" & Now.Day & Now.Hour & Now.Minute & Now.Second & ".ext")
> The following areas must be obviouse marked so I can change:
> Camera to be used (at the moment I only need ManyCam Camera to be used)
> Picture frequency (at first need it set to every 5 seconds)


If you are intrested please reply or PM me stating how much you would charge for this job.

Regards,
Max

[max_carpenter]

Hi, I thought I would just clarify as this does sound like a bit of a dodgy application that it is fully legit and legal it is to be integrated into part of another program I am building and won't be for mis-use. I am able to do most of the program myself but for some reason or other I am just unable to get the webcam part of it working.

Regards,
Max

[Davadvice]

TBH, you will be lucky to get anyone to do this. I would not be comfortable doing this for anybody never mind someone I have never even met.

I can't think of one reason why this app would be used legaly.

[max_carpenter]

lol, I do understand I have managed to find someone to help me now but I am actually working alongside the Sussex police and therefore I am sure this is a legal app or I think they would stop me. They know the specifications for this program as I have provided it to them I am waiting for some more advice from them as I am hoping to work closely with the computer crime department with this program.

[Davadvice]

now i am more concerned. for the police to use this it would have to be for ilegal puposes. there is no legal reason for this app to be in existance. all in all it's being used to covertly take images via a web cam. Even if the police do this it is ilegal in most cases unless they have a warrant.

Good luck, i would struggle to sleep at night.

[max_carpenter]

lol, Ok I will divulge information lol.

Its not for Police use. It is an application that I am making and selling titled 'Anti-Theft' Users basically purchase this application. All data it collects about location and iamge from webcam are safely sent over to my secure server where they are kept safe for a certain amount of time.

When and only when the end user reports the computer/laptop missing (and security checks will be confirmed) we then transport the last detail of the computer we have on record to the police (once a case is already logged with case id) to help the investigation.

I can assure you that this program is 100% legal and will not be operating with out the users knowledge as they have to purchase it.

I hope this clear a few things up. :-)

[max_carpenter]

Hi. As Davadvice, has expressed his views and concerns of this software and PM'ed me I can see how people could see this software as potentially illegal and a bit worrying.

I can assure anyone intrested that it is fully legal and any data it collects including images is 100% safe from prying eyes and even the police cannot get their hands on it without prior consent from the end user or via a warrant.

Our aim is not get peoples data or pictures then sell them on or anything along those lines but rather make laptops especially safer from people stealing them.

I can gurantee that any data we collect is with prior consent, stored safely and if not needed in a certain amount of time safely wiped from our systems.

This product will be sold as a service rather than a product with each copy being tied to hardware and authenticated via a license and our server this will stop the product falling into the wrong hands.

Although there has been thoughts in the past about licensing tied to hardware we are doing it for this product to prevent miss-use of the software as highly private data and personal stuff is at risk here We can easily authorize with permission of the license holder to move from one machine to another where the old machine will be completly de-authorised from further use and the appropiate security checks will be done.

Security checks including Name, DOB and address verification checks as well as a callback will be carried out on everything from collecting data from our servers to changing the license from one machine to another.

We will do everything in our power to secure this program and the data we hold. Unless presented with a warrant or Court Order the only possible way to get any information is to go through all the security checks. At any time a end user request to cancel the subscription all information will be erased within 24 hours of cancellation.

One last thing to point out is that the Data transfer is a one-way connection. Data can come into our servers from clients but the data can not be taken away from our servers only we have the power to do such a task.

If anyone has any further questions/thoughts or even suggestions we would be happy to hear/answer any of them.

Regards,
Max

[Jenner]

Honestly, it sounds like a good piece of software. There are a couple of "snap every X seconds software" out there, but a secure server on the backend and intelligence to try and catch would-be thieves would really set this apart. It would definitely be a worthy service.

I only wish I knew more about camera devices so that I could give you some advice or help you out some.

[max_carpenter]

:-) Thanks.

I have got the webcam part pretty much sorted out thanks to some help here just some tweaking and things but its the rest I need to work on now.

[DeanMc]

As a person who has had his laptop stolen I also think this is a good piece of software. Sure there are ways that it could be used for malicious purposes but no more malicious than hiding a camera in a vent.

[max_carpenter]

Hi, Thanks for you input.

Please pop over to this post where you can see alot more about how the software is working and what I am doing plus alot of other views:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=578314

[Davadvice]

Max, not sure if you seen the Gadget show the other week? there was a web cam app that performed slightly similar to what your app was doing. i never caught the name of it or who created it. myght be worth trolling there web site though.

Good luck

[max_carpenter]

Hi,

No I haven't seen this!! Has anyone got a link because I can't find it on their website....

Thanks.
Max