CHDK for Canon P&S Cameras Now with Motion Detection

Motion Detection is only in Alpha phase at the moment, but it seems to
work just fine. It has been integrated with and must be used with
uBASIC scripts so the end-user may have full control over detection
regions, how many regions to define, sensitivity in each region, and
how that motion detected will be implemented. Such as: still frame
shooting, video recording, bracketing (focus or exposure), shooting
delays after motion-detection, zoom-in as motion is detected centrally
(or zoom-out as motion nears borders), intervalometer triggering, used
as extreme remote-control (trigger the camera from a long distance
with a laser-pointer), etc. All the features available to CHDK
scripts, meaning _anything_ that you can do manually with your camera,
may now be remotely controlled with motion-detection. (See discussion
link below for all motion-detection commands/features available from
uBASIC scripts.)

Possible use examples:

Write a small script to detect motion (change) of a certain magnitude
on the R channel, you can select which color channel you want it to
detect a change in, or just the standard luminosity if you prefer,
briefly flash a red laser-pointer at camera from as far away as you
want, trip shutter when laser light is no longer detected.

Write a small script that doesn't shoot an image while motion is being
detected, tell your group to wave at the camera until you enter the
scene, when everyone remains perfectly still it will shoot an image
(motionless detection).

Write a small script to detect changes in the particular colors always
visible in aurora, set out the camera for the night, shoot timed or
change-detected sequences of aurora slowly evolving, stop shooting
when aurora dims or goes away.

The possibilities are endless. The only limit is your imagination and
your script-writing abilities. This will no doubt be of great use for
scientific research, investigative surveillance, and unattended nature
photography. No other high-quality, easily obtainable, un-tethered
cameras on earth can even come close to what is now possible. You
might find something similar in a research lab as a million-dollar
custom design, but not in your hands, until now. And it's free (minus
the cost of your P&S camera).


Other related Digic III firmware was finally captured and
compared to Digic II firmware, it appears at this time that CHDK is
fully portable to Digic III cameras. There is no mention on when or if
this will ever be done. Just that it is possible.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&thread=24662492