“What’s the weather like, honey?” “I don’t know. Let me check the mirror.” The mirror?
Both [Dylan Pierce] and [squix] have mirror projects that display the weather. They took two different approaches which makes for an interesting comparison. [Dylan] uses a Raspberry Pi with an actual monitor behind the mirror. [squix] puts an OLED behind the mirror driven by a ESP8266. It appears there is more than one way to hack a mirror, or anything, which is what makes hacking fun.
[squix] started with a picture frame, adding tinting film to the glass so it would reflect. A small section of tint was removed to allow the OLED to be seen. The ESP8266 software connects to the Weather Underground to get the latest information.
The Raspberry Pi version by [Dylan] puts a 27″ monitor behind the mirror. That is either terribly impressive or way over the top but seeing Linux boot behind the mirror makes it worth the effort. The Pi generates a web page which makes this adaptable as a general purpose kiosk.
A video of [squix]’s mirror in operation, after the break.
Check the window.
Useless. Make it show hourly forcast
You got right to the hearth of the project, congrats!
Had to work on this kind of stuff for a previous company. We were using [Dylan] solution of course : 27″ screen with touchscreen (usable through a plate of glass) with a real one-way mirror on top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdRbt4NpewM
I think an android tablet behind one way mirror would be easier than both of these. The large display area of the 27 inch is very cool but I doubt particularly useful.
I would hook up a proximity sensor so the tablet can sleep most of the time. I can’t find any cheap one way mirror in the UK or I’d make one too!
Good idea but why not just activate the tablet from the light switch, odds are if the lights are off nobody is using the crapper hence no need for the tablet.
I’ve used window mirror tint film and picture frames with great success.
Gregg, what kind/brand of window mirror tint film did you use? I’d like to maybe try this. Thanks.
Check out https://learn.adafruit.com/android-smart-home-mirror/overview
One way mirror film is pretty cheap, so I suspect you could make your own mirror with window glass (also cheap) or greenhouse glass (thinner, lighter, also cheap). http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=one+way+miror&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=one+way+miror&_sacat=0
I’ve tried laying film before and getting it completely flat with no air bubbles is pretty difficult. Also I wonder how good that stuff is as an actual mirror?
Most professionals I’ve seen apply the film using distilled water and a clean squeegee. It really helps if the glass is laying more or less flat.
I don’t think having the glass lay less flat would help.
Another ‘pro tip’ is using windex as a lubricant to get the film flat, then squeegeeing the bubbles and liquid out.
Windex or a dish soap/distilled water mix works incredibly well. Resist the temptation to stick a blowdryer on it. Patience is definitely key here.
Thanks guys I’ll guess I’ll find out what the UK equivalent of windex is and try that. Any particular film to look out for or just get the cheapest?
I think Dylan toke a good look at the MagicMirror of Michael Teeuw (http://michaelteeuw.nl/post/80391333672/magic-mirror-part-i-the-idea-the-mirror) or the other way around :-)
At the end of is article: “Big thank you to Michael Teeuw for the original inspiration and documentation on the project.”
I installed these 10+ years ago as a part of rich people’s homes. Both TV set and the output of a PC showing their day’s outlook calendar, weather, and news feed. One executive I had two displays behind glass in the shower. and this was back when flat screens were 3-5 inches thick and a major pain in the rear to fit behind anything. Today that super thin monitor makes it a LOT easier.
Interesting comment my wife said when I showed her this. Can you ask it “Who is the fairest one of all”?
An interesting project idea (which I am no where near awesome enough to make): A regular mirror which can respond to the phrase “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all” and a silver face can appear and respond.
You could do that with android and “open mic +” relatively easily, just need to create the video of the face.
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Magic-Mirror/
should give you everything you need :)
I wonder if one can install a touch screen or pad to it. Weather is trivial but an app reminding me to take my medicine and a way to check off I took it may be usefull