How to Use Your PS3 Eye As a Security Camera

A security camera can enable you to watch an area of your home unobtrusively from a distance. You can use a PlayStation 3’s PS3 Eye video cam as a security camera. The PS3 Eye is essentially a webcam; these are normally used with computers, but in this case was made for use with a video game console. Supplies from an electronics store and a camera store will be needed, as will a video program to use on a computer.

Stand the camera tripod in the area where you want to monitor with the PS3 Eye video camera. Screw the tripod screw in the top of the tripod’s platform into the bottom mounting hole in the PS3 Eye. Adjust the positioning of the tripod so that the lens at the front of the PS3 Eye faces in the direction of the area that will be monitored; for example, a window or door leading to the backyard.

Insert one end of a USB cable into the USB port on the PS3 Eye. Run the cable across the floor and over to the baseboard of the nearest wall. Insert the end of the USB cable into the USB input socket on the USB extender.

Open the USB sending extender’s battery compartment lid and insert fresh batteries into the battery compartment. Close the lid.

Screw an end of a coaxial cable into the coaxial output socket on the USB extender. Run the coaxial cable along the baseboard of the wall until you reach your computer. Staple the coaxial cable to the baseboard of the wall, using staples from a staple gun.

Open the USB receiving extender’s battery compartment lid and insert fresh batteries into the battery compartment. Close the lid. Screw the end of the coaxial cable into the coaxial input socket on the extender. Insert one end of a USB cable into the USB output socket on the extender. Insert the other end of the USB cable into a free USB port on the computer.

Download a video surveillance program to the desktop; for example, the trial version of Eyeline Video Surveillance (see Resources). Double-click the file once it has downloaded to start the installation. Follow the commands in the windows that appear to finish the installation.

Launch the video surveillance program by selecting it from the “Start” > “All Applications” pop-up menu. Select “Options” from the top of the program’s main screen--in some cases buttons (such as “Add Camera”) will be used instead of drop-down menus, depending on the program.

Select the PS3 Eye from the list of choices presented in a new window that appears either next to “Camera” or from a drop-down menu. Click the “OK” button to close the window. Watch the video from the PS3 Eye being displayed in a video window on the screen.