DeskCamera

Traditional IP cameras no longer cover all monitoring needs. While modern Video Management Systems (VMS) are widely deployed, security teams, system integrators, and IT departments increasingly need to monitor computer screens, applications, and software interfaces inside the VMS, just like any other camera.

This raises a practical question: can a regular PC act as an ONVIF IP camera?

At first glance, the idea sounds counterintuitive. ONVIF cameras are hardware devices, while a computer is not. Yet in real-world deployments, from POS monitoring to control rooms and remote operations, this requirement appears more often than expected.

Think of your surveillance system like a puzzle. You have pieces for the hallway, pieces for the parking lot, and pieces for the lobby. But what about the computer screens? If an operator clicks a phishing link, or a cashier cancels a transaction, your standard CCTV cameras won’t catch the details.

DeskCamera is the missing puzzle piece. It’s a lightweight app that turns your Windows PC into a virtual ONVIF IP camera, streaming the desktop, webcam, and microphone directly into your VMS.

Did you know your computer’s webcam can double as a professional security camera? You don’t need to buy expensive new hardware to monitor your office or workspace. With DeskCamera, you can transform any standard computer webcam into a high-quality RTSP & ONVIF security camera in minutes.

It’s a simple, software-only solution that integrates your existing webcams directly into your Video Management System (VMS) or Network Video Recorder (NVR), giving you a powerful new set of eyes without the hardware cost.

DeskCamera is a software solution that, among other great features, can act as a bridge between your existing cameras and your VMS or NVR system. One of its standout features is the ability to convert external third-party HTTP and RTSP streams into ONVIF IP cameras. Here’s how it works:

Integrate pure HTTP MJPEG streams with CCTV

Imagine having a mix of cameras from different manufacturers, some of which may not be ONVIF-compliant. Traditionally, this could lead to compatibility issues and headaches during integration. However, DeskCamera simplifies the process. By converting external HTTP and RTSP streams into ONVIF streams, it ensures seamless integration, regardless of the camera’s make or model.

Stop struggling with messy POS integrations. DeskCamera is the answer. It seamlessly integrates your POS terminals into your ONVIF VMS & NVR systems, getting rid of outdated text inserters, complex wiring, and expensive hardware encoders.

The Problem: Why Text Inserters Aren’t Enough

In retail, data alone doesn’t tell the whole story. A text inserter might show you a “Void Transaction” log, but it won’t show you what the cashier was actually doing with their hands at that moment. Did they put the cash in the register, or in their pocket?

Industrial control systems run on screens. SCADA dashboards, manufacturing HMIs, logistics trackers—if it’s on a PC, DeskCamera can record it.

We designed DeskCamera to solve a specific problem in manufacturing: How do you record operator screens into your Video Management System (VMS) without using expensive hardware encoders?

The Blind Spot in Industrial Monitoring

You have cameras watching the production line, the loading dock, and the perimeter. But what about the computer screens controlling it all? If a machine fails or a critical error occurs, standard CCTV won’t show you what the operator saw on their HMI at that exact moment.

Airports are complex operations. Baggage systems, radar screens, arrival boards, SCADA controls—dozens of mission-critical computer systems run 24/7. But here’s the problem: Those screens aren’t connected to your Video Management System (VMS). If something goes wrong, your cameras won’t help you figure out why.

DeskCamera fixes this. It’s a software video encoder that converts any Windows PC into a virtual ONVIF camera, streaming its screen directly into your centralized VMS.

Smart cities monitor streets, traffic, and public spaces. But in the control room, who is monitoring the operators?

Most VMS platforms log when an operator logs in, but they don’t tell you what they were looking at. Did they miss an incident because they were looking at the wrong screen? Or were they distracted by a non-work application?

DeskCamera solves this accountability gap.

The “Watcher” Problem

If an incident occurs in a high-security zone, you need to know if your team saw it. Blind spots in the control room are just as dangerous as blind spots on the street.

Casinos are high-surveillance environments for a reason. Every table, every slot machine, every cash transaction is a potential fraud vector. But what about the investigation process itself? When suspicious activity is flagged, your control room operators need tools that are as fast as the cheaters.

Live Editing: Build Evidence in Real-Time

Here’s the scenario: A player is acting shady at the blackjack table. Your operator pulls up Camera 12 (the table), Camera 7 (the player’s face), and Camera 3 (the cashier exchange). Normally, you’d have to export all three clips, sync them manually, and create a report. Hours.

From exam proctoring to hospital staff monitoring, computers are everywhere in education and healthcare. But if your CCTV only watches hallways and parking lots, you’re missing half the picture. DeskCamera fills the gap by turning PCs into virtual ONVIF IP cameras.

Education: Exam Integrity

Online exams are convenient, but they’re also easy to cheat on—unless you can see what students are doing. DeskCamera records both the student’s screen and their webcam, streaming both feeds into your VMS. It’s like having an AI proctor, except it’s just smart surveillance.