Ever wanted to keep an eye on your surroundings using a webcam or IP camera? Look no further! In this exciting technical blog, we'll walk you through the process of creating a live-streaming viewer using Python and OpenCV. Get ready to witness the world through the lens of code! 🌐🔍
🔹 Essential Libraries
Before we dive in, let's gather our tools:
pip install request && pip install request && pip install opencv-python && pip install imutils
First things first! We'll set up the URL to your camera's live feed. Make sure to append /shot.jpg
to the URL. 📹🔗
Ever thought of turning your Android phone into a webcam? Get ready to dive into the world of live streaming as we guide you through the process of setting up IP Webcam. 📹📱
🔹 Install IP Webcam App
Launch Google Play Store on your Android phone.
Search for "IP Webcam" by Pavel Khlebovich and install the app.
Once installed, open the app.
🔹 Configure IP Webcam
The app presents you with configuration options. Customize to your liking:
Video Orientation: Choose portrait or landscape mode.
Video Resolution: Select your preferred quality.
Audio: Enable/disable audio streaming.
Authentication: Secure access with a username and password.
Web Server Options: Configure server settings.
Remember the IP address and port number displayed. This is your webcam's URL.
🔹 Start Webcam Server
Scroll down and tap "Start server." A message confirms the server is running.
🔹 Access Webcam Stream from Computer
Open a web browser on your computer.
Enter the IP address and port number in the address bar (e.g., http://192.168.1.23:8080).
Explore options and enjoy the live video stream.
Adjust camera settings, capture images, or record videos.
🔹 Access Webcam Stream Using Code (Optional)
For the tech-savvy:
Modify the Python code you've got.
Replace
url
with your phone's webcam stream URL (e.g., url = "http://192.168.1.23:8080/video").Run the code to display the live stream on your computer.
url = "http://192.168.1.23:8080/shot.jpg"
🔹 The Live Stream Loop
Here's where the magic happens! Our loop continuously fetches and displays images from the camera.
while True:
img_resp = requests.get(url)
img_arr = np.array(bytearray(img_resp.content), dtype=np.uint8)
img = cv2.imdecode(img_arr, -1)
img = imutils.resize(img, height=1800, width=1000)
cv2.imshow("Live Stream Viewer", img)
Press Enter to Exit
if cv2.waitKey(1) == 13:
break
cv2.destroyAllWindows()
This is the main loop of the code:
The loop runs indefinitely (
while True:
) to continuously fetch images from the specified URL.requests.get(url)
sends an HTTP GET request to the URL and retrieves the image data.np.array(bytearray(img_resp.content), dtype=np.uint8)
converts the image data into a NumPy array of bytes.cv2.imdecode(img_arr, -1)
decodes the image bytes using OpenCV and stores it in theimg
variable.imutils.resize(img, height=1800, width=1000)
resizes the image to a height of 1800 pixels and a width of 1000 pixels using theimutils
library.cv2.imshow("Android_cam", img)
displays the resized image in a window with the title "Android_cam".The loop continues until the Enter key (key code 13) is pressed. When the key is pressed, the loop breaks and the OpenCV windows are closed using
cv2.destroyAllWindows()
.
🔹 Real-World Application
Imagine turning your computer into a live-streaming hub! Monitor your home security camera or keep tabs on your furry friend's adventures. With this code, you can create a custom live-streaming viewer tailored to your needs. 🐶🏠
This blog is just the beginning. Explore our GitHub repository for complete code examples and unleash your creativity! 💡🚀
🔗 Stay Tuned for More!
We're excited to empower you with the skills to build your very own live-streaming viewer. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for the full step-by-step guide, complete with interactive examples and engaging visuals.
📣 Like, Share, and Comment if you're excited to embark on this coding journey with us. Let's bring the world to your screen, one frame at a time! 📣