Best way to record sleeping, at least the last several minutes.

[rua]

I am looking for a relatively low-cost, low-resource way (e.g. in terms of file size) of recording me sleeping, at least the last 10 minutes or so before I wake up, but preferably longer. The goal is to observe particular behavior during my sleep. The video quality doesn't have to be great (CCTV-like quality could do), and it doesn't have to be in color. In fact it would probably need some sort of night vision option if I'm leaving the lights off.

I'm not sure if the best tool is a webcam or a regular cam, and in either case, which to use. It should have the ability to record objects clearly in the dark, and allow the user to set a recording time frame (e.g. 10 minutes) so that older content is deleted as newer content comes in. And considering that it might be recording for hours, it can't take up too much space on whatever storage space is being used.

Thanks for any help.

Edit: Here's what I mean by the 10/etc. min. recording time frame:
The recording continually records until it's manually stopped, but it only keeps the last 10/etc. minutes on storage (primarily to save storage space, but also because I'm checking mostly for behavior that might occur close to or while waking up), and after I wake up, I can stop the recording.

[Noahtuck]

of recording me sleeping, at least the last 10 minutes or so before I wake up

And you always wake up at the EXACT same time every day or night ?!?!?!

How is any software supposed to "know" when YOU wake up ?!?!

so that older content is deleted as newer content comes in.

And what if you wake up when this software is changing to the new 10 minute interval and starts to record over the last 10 minute before you wake up ?!?!?!



Buy an old camcorder that has nightvision and record the night of sleeping onto a vcr or dvr.

[TreeTops]

Some webcams have software that allows you to schedule the on/off time. But just trying to figure out the exact 10 minutes you want is not going to happen. Why not schedule it for an hour, save to the hard drive of your computer and later edit to the 10 minutes you want. (When you wake up)

[jagabo]

What you want is PVR software that keeps a circular rewind buffer.

[netmask56]

LOL 10 minutes before you wake up? That would be a real spooky bit of software. Jokes aside I did this many years ago on VHS half speed with a 4 hour tape. Needn't have bothered as I only sleep for 6 hours, however it was an experience I don't want to even think about.

The strange creaking noises and other unidentifiable noises off. My cat who I thought sleep peacefully at the foot of my bed was captured cavorting around the room chasing after ? and then settling behind my head proceeding to "clean" my hair...

Don't go there.. let it remain a mystery.....

[darkknight145]

you could just use a dashcam type camera unit. Just need to supply it with power and stop it recording when you wake up. Most come with infrared lighting, so should be ideal for your needs. After you've finished using it for this purpose you can re-purpose it to it's intended function (in a car).

[mike20021969]

And you always wake up at the EXACT same time every day or night ?!?!?!

Yes, if they rely on an alarm clock.

But some people do have the same (or natural) sleep pattern every night (esp. if you go to bed and get up at roughly the same times every day).

I wake up around* the same time every day.

*Believe it or not, it is generally within 10 minutes before my alarm goes off

[rua]

How is any software supposed to "know" when YOU wake up ?!?!

Some webcams have software that allows you to schedule the on/off time. But just trying to figure out the exact 10 minutes you want is not going to happen. Why not schedule it for an hour, save to the hard drive of your computer and later edit to the 10 minutes you want. (When you wake up)

LOL 10 minutes before you wake up? That would be a real spooky bit of software.

I wake up around* the same time every day.

What I meant was that the recording continually records until it's manually stopped, but it only keeps the last 10/etc. minutes on storage (primarily to save storage space, but also because I'm checking mostly for behavior that might occur close to or while waking up), and after I wake up, I can stop the recording. Edited post to clarify.

What you want is PVR software that keeps a circular rewind buffer.

you could just use a dashcam type camera unit. Just need to supply it with power and stop it recording when you wake up. Most come with infrared lighting, so should be ideal for your needs. After you've finished using it for this purpose you can re-purpose it to it's intended function (in a car).

Thanks for the suggestions.