HomeMirror

HomeMirror

Android application powering the mirror in my house

Note: code unmaintained

This was a fun project, and I may pick it back up again one day. You can still follow the instructions for putting a mirror together, but may need to bring your own light-text-on-dark-background app.

Software

• Day, time, and weather display
• Birthday messages
• Chore reminders
• Biking weather recommendation
• Stock price swings
• Today’s new XKCD
• Next calendar event
• Top news headline
• Face detection with mood detection

APIs provided by Yahoo Finance, Forecast.io, the BBC, and XKCD

How to Run

1. Clone project
2. Get a forecast.io api key
3. Add a keys.xml file under res/values with <string name=“dark_sky_api_key”>your_key</string>
4. Import project to Android Studio and run

When its mirror time, I also recommend turning on the device Developer Option: “Stay Awake - Screen will never sleep while charging”

Making a Mirror

Video walk-through on adafruit (Thank you Becky!)

1. Obtain Android device

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We had too many. Sad old devices are ideal. I used a 2012 Nexus 7.

2. Obtain two-way mirror

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We did this the old-fashioned way, and quested to Canal Plastic Center. A beautiful and highly recommended establishment.

Wiki of places to buy two-way mirrors

Get a mirror at least as large as your Android device. My mirror is 6"x12" with 1/8 thickness.

3. Sticky stuff for mounting

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Our trickiest problem was figuring out how to mount everything with minimal damage and error. We eventually discovered reusable double-sided adhesive, which is amazing.

We’re using it both to mount the mirror to the device, and the device to the wall.

4. Attach black backing

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We used black construction paper. If your device and mirror are awesomely identical in size, you can skip this.

Note: You want to glue it well, so the backing doesn’t tear when the adhesive is holding it.

• Cut a piece of black backing the same size as your mirror
• Decide where you want your device to show through. We did upper right. Leave a border all the way around for adhesive.
• At that location, carefully cut a hole in the backing the same size as your device
• CAREFULLY glue the backing to the mirror. We used spray adhesive, and practiced how we would pick it up and lay it on the mirror a couple times before going for it. We also wore black surgical gloves.

5. Adhesion

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Fire up the app on the device.

Put the adhesive along the bezel or edges of the device. Line up the mirror and stick it on there.

6. Wall spot

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You probably want a long usb cable. Find a wall spot where you can keep the device plugged in.

Put a bunch of adhesive on the back of the device, and stick it on there.

Links

At the heart of this project, is ‘put a mirror on it’. Check out alternative mirror projects and feel free to add your own reflections