Besides news, the technology will let you send emails, shop online or add calendar entries via your mirror. And it uses the Kinect to interact with the user via motion and voice commands. It’s an interesting concept, but, really, is the bathroom the best place to use this technology?
The average person spends a total of one hour per day in the bathroom and most of that time is spent on the commode or in the shower, not in front of the mirror. The amount of time you spend brushing your teeth is just a tiny part of your day.
The bathroom is also a huge breeding ground for microorganisms, especially if you flush with the seat up. Every flush releases a plume of virus and bacteria into the air that disperse and land on your sink, walls and your newly installed interactive mirror. Kinda gross, no? [Nieman Journalism Lab]
Duragizer
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 1:04 PMThe range of possible uses for this sort of display are pretty far-reaching. As for the utility value in having such a display in a bathroom, im not really sold on.
One interesting application for this sort of stuff would be to combine it with an RFID scanner, install a full length version at a clothing store and when people are trying on outfits give them some info on what they are wearing (combined total cost of outfit for example).
Corteks
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:01 PMThat would be pretty great, combine it with a camera system and it could take a pic of what you’re trying on so you can grab the info and review it later, compare prices and looks and all that without having to try and remember what came from which store and for how much.
Aliasalpha
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 1:52 PMImagine the uses for targetted advertisng, you’re on the loo having a bit of trouble getting things started, it reads your facial expressions and noises and your mirror pops up an ad saying “Tricky shit? Consider using EasyPoo laxative tablets”
Jason Imms
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:06 PMI think this idea is awesome – nay, the future.
Also, if you flush your toilet with the lid down like a CIVILISED PERSON you avoid said plume of whatever.
My76cents
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:08 PMWasn’t this mirror in “The 6th Day” with Arnie?
FiveStein
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 3:48 PMor most recently in Deus Ex: HR
Max
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:40 PMThe fact that this uses a camera means I’ll never use it in the bathroom. That said, I can already imagine plenty of other great uses for it.
Jackson Bison
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:54 PMUm, let’s not forget what a mirror is for – i.e. looking at a reflection in it. One cannot look at both the reflection and displayed data at the same time.
Stupid idea.
Glenn
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 3:56 PMOnce can move ones eyes
Steve
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 11:34 PM“The average person spends a total of one hour per day in the bathroom”
Here are some VERY generous estimates (add or minus a few minutes here and there for vanity)
Teeth/hair (twice daily) – 2 x 5 mins
Shower – 10 mins
Number 1 – 10 mins
Number 2 – 10 mins
= 40 minutes a day (with some very creative book-keeping). And this is the AVERAGE person?
DanMan
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 7:50 PMMy toilet is in a separate room like most Australians.