ShortList is supported by you, our amazing readers. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Learn more

This Google engineer's smartmirror is incredibly cool

Max Braun has a very smart mirror.

This Google engineer's smartmirror is incredibly cool
03 February 2016

Max Braun has a very smart mirror.

It's not that it's impeccably clean (though it is). The Google engineer decided to set himself a project of building a bathroom mirror with the sort of tech that sci-fi films have promised for years - and it's incredible. 

Constructed from a two-way mirror, a display panel, a bunch of computer components and a controller board, Braun's mirror grabs a whole host of useful data from 'the cloud' and displays them around the edge of the glass.

"To the right of where my face would be we have the time and date," explains Braun. "To the left is the current weather and a 24-hour forecast. Below are some recent news headlines."

There are no flashy videos and not a great deal of colour in the display - but that's a purposeful decision. Braun doesn't want any of the display to detract from the mirror's main function of reflecting his appearance.

Here's what hides behind the mirror...

Braun isn't the first engineer to build a smart mirror - but despite the internet reacting with overwhelming interest at every homebuilt project, no large tech group is yet to create their own consumer model.

If you fancy building one yourself, you can try following this guide. Braun has hinted he might post a making-of diary, so keep an eye on his Medium page for further updates.

Or failing that, you could just glue an old smartphone to the tiles over the loo?

(Images: Max Braun)