If you can find a flush mount microphone that's good, go ahead and do that. I didn't want to drill a hole in the face of the mirror and ruin the look, although that would probably be the best location for a microphone. The microphone itself is flexible, so if it doesn't pick up sound properly I can always pull it out further and curl it around the bottom of the mirror. I put it in the bottom of the mirror where you won't see it. Next, I drilled a hole for my microphone.
Diy smart card reader writer install#
Eventually I want to install a power outlet behind the mirror, but for now I can be lazy and power it this way. I used my dremel and a multipurpose bit to cut a small slot at the bottom to run a power cord through. The total cost for this project (including the wood, monitor, Raspberry Pi, and mirror) was around $300-350. The box/frame houses all the components, including the microphone, and looks pretty. The Raspberry Pi is a small, credit card-sized computer that powers the whole thing, displaying the Magic Mirror interface and running Jasper, the voice-control system.
I also recommend a monitor with built-in speakers, but this is optional. I recommend an LED monitor for minimal power consumption, maximum crispness, and to prevent mirror glow at night. Order the thicker mirror option (3/16") to prevent a "funhouse mirror" effect. I ordered my mirror through Tap Plastics ( this one). The two-way mirror is made of acrylic and sits flush over the monitor, allowing the graphics on the monitor to shine through while maintaining a mirror effect. The attached highly technical drawing illustrates how these components work together. There are four major components to the voice-controlled smart mirror.