SMOWL's camera monitoring service or user supervision via webcam is one of the most used services by our customers.
This service is included in the SMOWL+ and SMOWL PRO plans.
What is the camera monitoring?
Camera monitoring is the supervision of the user during the course of a monitored activity through the camera integrated in the device or one connected to the device.
This service randomly captures photographs of the user during the exam and they are presented in a report to the teacher or supervisor responsible for the activity.
This random process of capturing photographs complies with a periodicity limited by contract with the institution and can be configured if necessary.
How does it work?
 | Once the exam starts, SMOWL enables a block where the user can check that everything is working.
If camera monitoring is enabled, the user will be able to see himself reflected in our monitoring block at all times. In case there is a technical error that makes it difficult to capture images, the system will flash red informing the user. |
In addition, with the activation of the front camera we can enable audio capture if required by the institution. Ensuring greater control during the course of the exam.
What does it detect?
The camera monitoring report provides the captures taken during the examination and catalogs them according to the cases detected.
Technical evidence: configuration problems, camera not detected...
User evidences: incorrect user, absent user...
Behavioral evidence: resources not allowed, camera blocked...
Camera monitoring results
The monitoring results report shows the total captures taken and the corresponding cases.
If a user's registration is pending validation, our system does not validate the activity until the registration is properly validated. |
Validation
By enlarging the capture you can check the validation case for each image. All the events detected by SMOWL are shown grouped by case in the event report.
 | Correct user: The image has been validated as correct by SMOWL. |
 | Bad conditions: SMOWL is not able to correctly detect the user due to poor lighting or poor user position. |
 | Incidences: Improper behaviors will be marked in red. We consider as incidents: incorrect user, nobody on camera, forbidden elements, etc. |
Pending validation: Camera monitoring results are given by SMOWL with a maximum of 24 hours as long as users are correctly registered. In the meantime, all captures will remain grayed out, pending validation.
Camera incidents
Here you will find all the cases related to camera monitoring incidents:
 | Incorrect user: The user does not match the images in the register. |
 | Multiple persons detected: More than one total or partial person on camera. |
 | Absent user: No one in front of the camera. |
 | Covered webcam: Covered webcam obstructing proper monitoring. |
 | Forbidden elements: The user appears on camera with headphones, cell phone or other electronic device not allowed during the activity. |
 | Navigation in other tabs: When an activity is only monitored by camera, SMOWL will indicate that the user has switched tabs and left the exam page. |
 | Incidents with illumination and/or positioning: User poorly lighting or in a position that does not allow correct validation of user monitoring. |
Suspicious behavior: The user behaves suspiciously after an incident described above, indicating that it may still be effective. For example, several people have been detected in one of the captures and later the user is seen talking to a person off camera.
Configuration problems
SMOWL also provides evidence about the user's configuration to monitor an activity:
 | Webcam discarted: The user has not granted permission in his browser to monitor the camera during the activity. |
 | Webcam blocked by another application: The camera is being used by another application making it impossible for SMOWL to perform proper monitoring. |
 | Configuration problem: SMOWL has detected a problem in the camera configuration. |
| Webcam not detected: The user is accessing the activity without a camera connected to his computer. |
| Unsupported browser: The user has accessed the activity from a browser not supported by SMOWL. |