Google Engineer Creates a Smart Mirror in His Own Home

There are plenty of products that can be described as “smart” nowadays, including phones, cars, watches and even mirrors. A Google software engineer named Max Braun has managed to create an actual smart mirror for his own bathroom, and the best part is that this little project was actually put together using off the shelf parts. Since it’s still a work in progress, the mirror does need a few tweaks and fixes, but it definitely looks at home above Max’s bathroom sink. According to the project’s creator, the necessary materials included a two-way mirror, a controller board, a display panel and miscellaneous arts & crafts supplies.

As for the software part, the code behind the user interface is based on simple Android APIs complemented by Associated Press for the news sharing service and Forecast for the weather information. Max is also looking to implement other useful Google services in the future, including reminders and traffic news. Apparently, the user doesn’t have to interact with the UI too often in order to receive the information that he needs. Instead, the interface will update itself automatically, and it will even support voice search.  Even though it’s probably too early to think about this right now, I do hope that similar products will enter the consumer market in the following years.