It’s all very well getting notifications, and being able to search for things online using your smartphone, but what about when your phone is on charge, or somewhere out of reach. When you’re in the bathroom for example? That’s when you’ll want a smart mirror, and if you’re the techy type, then it may even be possible to build your own, just like Nick Nothom.
Posting his creation on Reddit’s message boards, Nothom has made his own prototype smart mirror, which runs Android Wear and can respond to his voice, just like his phone or Android Wear smartwatch. He gives a quick demonstration of its ability in the YouTube video you see below. From what we can see, it works well.
Perhaps more importantly, it looks good too. Getting the style and simplicity of the interface right is a major part of the challenge when it comes to smart equipment we’ll use in our home, and Notham’s mirror seems to do the job, even at prototype stage.
On his website, Nothom explains why he took on the project. He wanted to create a connected device which would free people from the distraction of using a smartphone. For example, what may start as looking at the weather for the next day just before bed, could turn into an hour browsing Google News, eBay, or another site. He was also intrigued with Android’s voice control system, and the way it could be used in the home.
He estimates the budget for his smart mirror is around $500, which includes an LED display set behind a sheet of one-way glass. That’s not a cheap mirror, but the cool factor, and the satisfaction of building something like this yourself makes it good value.
