DIY Magic Mirror and Photobooth - Arduino Powered

An assembled kit for this project is now available from Seeedstudio.com
More info at this project at http://diymagicmirror.com

Who's the fairest of them all. Make your own Magic Mirror and find out. The Magic Mirror can read the weather, tell you how your stocks did, can be wired to your doorbell with an IP camera video feed, turns lights & appliances on and off using X-10 control, and even has a Breathalyzer that tells you when you've had too much to drink. The Magic Mirror plays pre-recorded animations based on input from various sensors. Featuring four characters, each character responds to the sensor inputs with its own personality. Characters include a skull for your next Halloween party, a pirate, a princess character, and a really mean pumpkin who disses you New York cabbie style.

Magic Mirror Features:

• Breathalyzer with optional Tweeting
• Photobooth Mode (Link to Separate Instructable on Photobooth Mode)
• Speak your Tweets from Twitter
• Weather Forecast
• Stock Performance
• Sends X-10 CommandsDoorbell input with IP camera feed
• Picasa based slideshow
• Princess, Pirate, Halloween, Insult Characters
• Text to Speech Mode
• Personalize it with your own Videos
• Runs as a native application on the PC, Mac, and Linux

Parts
El Cheapo PC or Laptop (a 3-4 Year Model will work)
Arduino Micro-Controller - $30
Used 15" LCD monitor - $50
Dielectric Glass TV Mirror 4mm (2-Way Mirror) 12x12 Sample (Optional) - $20
Magic Mirror Kit with Software
Picture Frame with Oval Matte (Optional)

Sensors (Pick and choose the sensors based on your installation)

Maxbotix Promixity Sensor
Seeedstudio or Phidgets Touch Sensors (3) - $7 each
Alcohol Sensor (1) - $7
Reed Switches (2) - $5 each
See here for all supported sensors

X-10 Components and LEDs (Optional)

X-10 Firecracker - $5 on eBay
X-10 Transceiver Module - $20
X-10 Dimmer Switches (2) - $12 each
LEDs - $5

Step 1 Arduino and Adobe Flash

The basic concept is the Magic Mirror plays pre-recorded videos (Adobe Flash format) based on input from various sensors (proximity, touch, switches). I chose Flash because there is an open source Flash library available called AS3Glue that talks to the Arduino.

On the Arduino, you have to load a program called Firmata which let's you control the Arduino from Adobe Flash (specifically Action Script 3.0). There are multiple versions of Firmata out there so be sure to use the one that comes with the Magic Mirror software download. You also have to run a serial server (included in the software download) which acts as a middleman converting serial data received from the Arduino to a TCP/IP port that Flash can access.

Comments

[Sovereignty]

Has this ever officially received a Coolest Instructable Ever award?

[GUNsicker]

Awesome!!
Also - Is that you... Keanu Reeves?
:D

[alinke]

ha ha, I'll take that as a compliment, thx

[maxpower49]

ummm what does this have to do with the magic Magic Mirror

[spacelf]

Do not question Magic Mirrors and the things that maybe.

if you look above the window you shall see. (pumkin head)

[hihihi0hi]

That's so cool!

[vistal]

Hmm i like to see a trans formers Optumis prime for my nephew how hard would that be?

[alinke]

You'd just need to produce the videos and then here's how to add them to the Magic Mirror http://diymagicmirror.com/personalize.html. Some folks have had good success with the Crazy Talk software http://www.reallusion.com/crazytalk/, that would be the easiest way to author the videos.

[Fireater989]

Do the kits come with the new mask version? If not, is there any way you (the supplier) can update it or do I have to buy it myself?

[alinke]

Hi, I'm not sure what the new mask version is you're referencing but send me some details and I'll look into it. The characters that the kit comes with you can see here http://diymagicmirror.com/chars/mirrorchars.html

[Fireater989]

http://www.imagineerieing.com/products.html
There's the original Mirror, then there's the Mirror, Mirror. I think you have the new one cause it was released in '08 and that's when this was written

[alinke]

yes Mirror, Mirror is the one used here

[vishalapr]

I was amazed by the video!What a fantastic job u have done, wish I could make one, will try to make one soon!!!

[tinker234]

nice hey could i make this in a wall and use diffrent avatars

[alinke]

hey, great questions, yes, in the manual on http://diymagicmirror.com, there are instructions for an in-wall installation and yes you can also add in your own characters, the manual explains how to do that

[tinker234]

thanks i will pick one up evantully

[typedink]

This is just great! I really wish I could afford the kit.

[alinke]

the kit makes the wiring easier but not needed if you are good on building circuits with the arduino, you can just use the arduino, the manual on http://diymagicmirror.com has the schematic, you'd just need the software piece

[goedeleg]

Would it work with arduino uno?

[mary candy]

this is the best thing I saw here!
I am in shock. :O

[mary candy]

AMAZING !

[skywalker619]

Now this!!

is GREAT just WOW!!

[RichardBronosky]

Very sad. I like to contact the guy from www.imagineerieing.com but can find no way to do so. The "Mac" version he offers is for PPC only. The new Intel Macs can support PPC software via Rosetta, but Apple doesn't even include Rosetta in Mac OS 10.6 (2009). He really needs to recompile his Mac offerings.

[alinke]

Hi Richard, I have spoken to the guy at www.imagineerieing.com and he says he will re-compile, I will send you a message with his e-mail in case you want to contact him

[Doubleblades85]

lol i need that =]

[manchaware]

Have you heard of the beagleboard? It's an ultra small (3"x3") pc board capable of playing HD video (via DVI-D/HDMI). It comes with 1 USB, 1 Line in, 1 Line Out, and 1 S-Video Out. And, it only requires 5V @ 500mA so you don't need a fan to cool it. It doesn't have a HDD, but instead sports an SD slot so you can probably run Debian or Ubuntu off a 1gb SD card.

[maxpower49]

do we have to buy the puppets

[alinke]

hi, if you want to make your own animations, then yes you'd need to buy the puppets ($15 each). If you purchase the software on http://diymagicmirror.com, the animations are included. let me know if you need anything else

[dalucero]

For the touch sensor you could drill a hole halfway into the sheetrock like a mortise joint, or you could cut a hole all the way through and then cover it with one of those sheetrock repair mesh patches.

[alinke]

that's a good idea, I think I'm going to try that actually, it should be much more responsive that way, thanks!

[alinke]

update on this one, took the advice and did it with the sheetrock repair mesh patch. That did the trick, touch sensors would perfectly now.

[dalucero]

awesome! glad it worked out.

[Soy_Un_Oso]

that's amazing. your kids must love it, I cracked up in the video when I saw the magic mirror launching windows. it's supposed to run on magic!!!! haha

[alinke]

I'll work on that :-)

[chrispaccord]

this is pretty awesome. Is there a way to program multiple videos with dialogue and have them run randomly on one proximity sensor? (So that each time you step up to the mirror you would get a different comment from the floating face)

[alinke]

I like your thinking, that one is actually on my to do list. It is very doable, not that hard to program at all. The hard part is coming with the dialogue. Shoot me a note if you have any suggestions :-)

[Phoghat]

Ok, I didn't see the link to buy in teensy little print at the top. Make it bigger man. As of next paycheck I'm there. Probably going for the build it model, have 4 grand daughters and 4 grand sons. You do the math

[contrivial]

I thought I'd seen somewhere (your website) that yu said it was quite a bit dimmer with the mirror. Is this the case? Like, how much so? Neat!

[alinke]

it is dimmer with the two-way mirror for sure although it also is kind of a cool floating mirror effect. I use it in an indoor playhouse and also did two solid days at Maker Faire this year, everyone was able to view it just fine. The people that have seen it definately prefer it with the two-way mirror as it adds to the illusion. If you need anything else here, just let me know.

[balam]

wowowowoow amazing work. q: how you wire the arduino? a pic of the wiring will be awesome