Show HN: Make a programmable mirror • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#41

Post by suyash » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:27 PM UTC

Ask HN : Absolutely the coolest thing I've seen in a while. Can someone explain, how the phone screen is being displayed in the mirror? It is behind the mirror, it's not in front of it? Since the mirror won't understand touch, there is no touch based control and one needs to pull the phone out to change app etc right.

Thanks

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#42

Post by brunorsini » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:29 PM UTC

Any suggestions for stores similar to Canal Plastic Center in San Francisco?

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#43

Post by suyash » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:34 PM UTC

suyash wrote: post #41

Ask HN : Absolutely the coolest thing I've seen in a while. Can someone explain, how the phone screen is being displayed in the mirror? It is behind the mirror, it's not in front of it? Since the mirror won't understand touch, there is no touch based control and one needs to pull the phone out to change app etc right. Thanks

Answering my own question, secret is in the two way mirror, so no touch and no camera as the other side would reflect back.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#44

Post by harpastum » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:36 PM UTC

rmxt wrote: post #38

matthiasb wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You can get refurbished 17" monitors from Newegg for about $50: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824195...

If you're using an rPi and don't want to get an adapter, the cheapest HDMI-input display is this 20" 1600x900px for $90 new: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824112...

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#45

Post by Amorymeltzer » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

ComteDeLaFere wrote: post #24

Kiro wrote: post #7

This needs a Kickstarter. I would back it immediately.

Seconded.

Thirded. As someone said elsewhere, this is one of those "okay wow the future is here" things. This, more than a hover car, would do the trick. Major quality of life improvement.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#46

Post by oaktowner » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

brunorsini wrote: post #42

Any suggestions for stores similar to Canal Plastic Center in San Francisco?

Over the last 25 years I've heard the "Tap Plastics" radio commercial in the Bay Area so many times that the jingle has burned into my brain.

But I can't compare them to Canal Plastic Center.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#47

Post by Mindless2112 » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:46 PM UTC

pwnna wrote: post #11

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.

There's been research [1] into making programmable thin-film membrane mirrors [2] using the piezoelectric effect.

[1] http://prod.sandia.gov/techlib/access-control.cgi/2004/04126... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane_mirror

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#48

Post by adanto6840 » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:47 PM UTC

Not sure if it's this article or not (wouldn't surprise me), but there's a number of "one way mirror" plastic/acrylic sheets on Amazon, with Prime shipping. But all of the larger, more practical ones are sold out as of a few minutes ago, hah. ;-)

Awesome project.

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#49

Post by _xzxj » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:52 PM UTC

On first glance I thought the mirror said "Wear pants today" as if the mirror should know whether or not my legs will get cold...

Re: Show HN: Make a programmable mirror

#50

Post by Jtsummers » Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 6:54 PM UTC

suyash wrote: post #43

suyash wrote: post #41

Ask HN : Absolutely the coolest thing I've seen in a while. Can someone explain, how the phone screen is being displayed in the mirror? It is behind the mirror, it's not in front of it? Since the mirror won't understand touch, there is no touch based control and one needs to pull the phone out to change app etc right. Thanks

Answering my own question, secret is in the two way mirror, so no touch and no camera as the other side would reflect back.

You can update it by remoting into the phone or having it pull down configuration changes from a server periodically.