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Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

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Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#31

Post by pavel_lishin »

Linell wrote: post #26
joshgachnang wrote: post #5

I'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…

How far have you gotten on your project? The idea of a mirror I could wave at to change the information display on is pretty tempting.

I wonder if you could also rig up a few microphones to enable touch controls.

I remember reading an early Stephenson novel, where a stereo system was described as a blank black slate, with essentially invisible controls. Having something like that behind a mirror would be a fun hack.

edit: Or do this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10205457

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#32

Post by pavel_lishin »

steckerbrett wrote: post #21
maaaats wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An OLED screen could solve this, having no light where the screen is black.

OLED have terrible burn in though, they don't like being turned on for long lengths of time.

Someone above suggested adding a motion sensor, so that it would only turn on when you were in front of it.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#34

Post by phkahler »

davnicwil wrote: post #6

What an absolutely awesome idea. I love things like this that just blend software and information into the physical environment seamlessly. I see stuff like this and just think, yeah, now we're living in the future :-D Kind of reminds you how cumbersome and inappropriate it can be to have to pull out a dedicated black slab of glass to access all your information. The future (at least the one I want) without a doubt i…

You may also be interested in Jasper:

http://jasperproject.github.io/documentation/

So you can do voice activated mirrors.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#38

Post by rmxt »

matthiasb wrote: post #29
rmxt wrote: post #28

This is really neat, but not having a spare Android tablet lying around, I'm left wondering: is there any cost-effective way to magnify a small screen, say that of a SGS3, to a larger size? Anyone have any tricks of light, like angled mirrors or prisms, up their sleeves to achieve such an effect in a thin depth? I don't get the impression that resolution is all that important if all it's going to be used for is a few…

If you have a spare screen, this is a nice low cost alternative: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/magic-mirror/

Thanks. Any suggestions for a purchasable low-cost, low-power, low-medium resolution, largish screen?

EDIT: Self-suggestion : https://www.adafruit.com/products/1287.... and the linked to tutorial has some suggestions.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#39

Post by level »

joshgachnang wrote: post #5

I'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…

That's funny, I've actually been doing the exact same thing, RPi2 and a Hover. I have a few blog posts about it here which I was going to post after the project is finished.[1]

I actually just bought all the wood to build the frame and I'll hopefully be doing next weekend.

[1]http://alaycock.github.io/blog/

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#40

Post by level »

eflowers wrote: post #35

That weather readout would look great with some slick weather icons: https://erikflowers.github.io/weather-icons/

I'm using these for my smart mirror project, and tied them by index to the Yahoo Weather API.[1][2] There isn't a perfect one-to-one relationship between the API codes and the icons, but it's pretty close.

My one complaint about the icons is that they flow outside of the boundaries of what you'd expect them to be contained in, which can lead to some accidental overlap if you aren't careful with your margins.

[1] https://github.com/alaycock/SmartMirror/blob/master/public/j...

[2] https://developer.yahoo.com/weather/documentation.html#codes

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