This is really cool! Although the title could be better, initially I thought this is talking about mirrors that can be programmed to adjust its properties (like tilt, curvature), much like those fancy telescope mirrors, although I'm unable to find a link now.
Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
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Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#12This is a project I could get into. Full Maker on. I like the details provided and the images. I'm thinking about using some other display than android phone since I don't have one.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#13Pretty cool. I'd want to try this out on a kindle paperwhite and see if it would work. How obvious is the rectangle of light? I can't see it at all in the first pic, but can make it out a little in the last pic
Hi, I helped hannahmitt make the mirror.
The rectangle of light isn't noticeable at all in normal light if you adjust the brightness on the tablet well. In a dark room it can be noticeable, though.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#14I wish this went into a bit more detail about working with the mirror itself. Do you actually need a 2-way mirror? Or can you simply use something with that coating on one side?
Some mirrors may have a thin enough back coating for light to shine through, but the two-way is ideal.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#15This is way more affordable than the same thing I saw at Harrod's for like $10,000. Awesome project! Can't wait to try this.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#16I wonder if humidity and steam would be a problem if this was done in a bathroom.
We used construction paper to black out the back around the tablet. My guess is that the paper wouldn't like the humidity but the rest would be fine. Perhaps you could swap in some black plastic material that would work with spray adhesive.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#17I'm guessing this is based off [1] which uses a normal monitor and a Raspberry Pi. This one looks much quicker and simpler than [1], but what if you need to do anything to the tablet (updates, new app, etc)? Remove it and re-adhesive? Personally, I've been working on doing the same with an RPi and Hover so I can wave my hand in front of the mirror to swipe to new screens/info. [1] https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/mag…
The other end of the USB cable and tinkering through that is usually enough.
But definitely nice to have non-permanent adhesive.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#18I'm guessing this is based off [1] which uses a normal monitor and a Raspberry Pi. This one looks much quicker and simpler than [1], but what if you need to do anything to the tablet (updates, new app, etc)? Remove it and re-adhesive? Personally, I've been working on doing the same with an RPi and Hover so I can wave my hand in front of the mirror to swipe to new screens/info. [1] https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/mag…
Or use something like AirDroid[0] (to interact with the tablet)
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#19I wish this went into a bit more detail about working with the mirror itself. Do you actually need a 2-way mirror? Or can you simply use something with that coating on one side?
I'm not too sure what you're asking, but a two way mirror is just a surface that reflects some light and lets some through. It's a very thin metallic coating on one side of something transparent.
Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror
#20Pretty cool. I'd want to try this out on a kindle paperwhite and see if it would work. How obvious is the rectangle of light? I can't see it at all in the first pic, but can make it out a little in the last pic
An OLED screen could solve this, having no light where the screen is black.