Weblog entry #5 for summitwulf
See all weblog entries made by summitwulf.
Her house has a broadband network connection ('BT Option 2') and I have just sorted out the configuration of the Voyager 210 router to allow external connections to boxes behind this unit. (But don't get me started on BT's criminally bad 'support').
I'm thinking of adding various things around the house to both help and monitor, for example, a couple of strategically placed webcams, to allow me to keep a remote eye on things and be able to help quickly if something goes wrong. I don't want a Big Brother feel with cameras everywhere, but for peace of mind it would be nice to see if someone is still mobile, the house isn't on fire, and so on. I currently have one Axis 206M network camera which I am experimenting with.
Extending this a bit, I am wondering if a very, very simple-to-use video conferencing system, based on a Debian system, could be set up. To be honest the person was quite a technophobe even before the stroke, so I would need something which could be controlled entirely remotely - i.e. I could make a phone call to them to ask them to go and sit in their favourite chair near the system, and the link can then be established remotely without them needing to do anything. Is this possible? Are there any packages that could be used to build something like this?
Another thing I'd like to look at is the possibility of having some sort of 'alert' or 'contact me' system whereby the Debian box can send me an email if the person has a problem or would just like a chat (via phone or video, or just a visit). The goal would be absolute ease of use during the early stages of the recovery, so it has to be 'press this green button' simple, no logging on, no keyboards, no turning on monitors, etc. A single button is pushed, I get an email, I call the person back, that's it.
If anyone can offer me help or advice, I'd much appreciate it. Computing has long been touted as a help in these sort of situations, let's see what can be done?
Comments on this Entry
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http://www.gnomemeeting.org/
This sounds like the sort of thing I could use.
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I'd say set up VNC as a server so you can login and control both ends for arranging stuff or setting up a calls, or sorting any problems.
There are social service support stuff for old people worth checking out (assuming you are in the UK).
I'm working through the "skepticality" podcasts at the moment, one of whose presenters seems to be recovering well from a similar problem, if she need some moral support from her computer as well, might be worth grabbing that podcast.
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This may be a very dumb question, but how do I ensure I get a static IP from my service provider? I have noticed both external IPs for my broadband connections in the US and the UK change every now and again, usually at the most inconvenient times. I then I have to manually update my DynDNS accounts. I can't use DynDNS' dynamic IP service because it doesn't change often enough, and they then send me warnings not to use a dynamic account for an address that appears to be static (even though it isn't). Can you enlighten me as to a better way to handle this?
I'm thinking of building a small dedicated Debian system based on a VIA EPIA-EN15000G that will run Ekiga and VNC. Low power and not too noisy, so it can run continuously and not be too 'obvious'.
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UKFSN provide them as standard (I don't know if other Entanet resellers do). Eclipse provide them free on request.
I can't say what other providers do, you'd have to ask when signing up.
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However, I found ddclient which seems to solve the problem nicely.
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Asterisk also has the ability to setup calls both ways and several other stuff.
One of the things I do with it is call my cellphone when some host is down and more stuff like that.
http://www.asterisk.org
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/index.php?page=Asterisk
Good luck
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It may be possible to add some scripting to send out an alert when no motion has been detected for a period of time.
http://packages.debian.org/stable/graphics/motion
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