How to build a Magic Mirror and not die trying

Discover the «magic» of building your own «Magic Mirror» with your Raspberry and enjoy as a child.

Looking for projects to mess with my first Raspberry, I came to the world of Magic Mirror. Since then and after a few months of learning and hundreds of tests and trials, I have completed my first «Magic Mirror» which, despite being very happy with the final result, I consider only a first prototype prior to major challenges to be faced in the future .

In essence, a Magic Mirror is nothing more than a (magical?) Mirror that, in addition to performing its function -more or less- as such, allows to display information of very different types with a wide range of configuration possibilities. Although something already existed previously, the popularity of these devices, which respond to the DIY (Do it Yourself) philosophy, is due to Michael Te euw and the enormous and active community of makers existing around the world of the Magic Mirror.

The «magic» is produced by a series of devices -with special reference to the irreplaceable Raspberry- that, cleverly camouflaged behind the glass, allow the desired effect to be achieved, combined with powerful modular software that allows you to experiment with infinite functionalities.

It goes without saying that few original contributions are in the «prototype» that I am going to comment on in this post (although some own contribution may be found). In essence, it is a compilation of information and work from other people (especially as regards the installed modules) that I greatly appreciate that they have made their knowledge and wisdom publicy available via the network. To all the makers of the world… Thank you very much!

In this tutorial, I will not dwell in too much detail on the mirror construction or configuration process itself, but essentially what I intend to convey are my experiences in this regard as well as the end result. In any case, you will always find throughout this post a compilation of the necessary links to start your «magical journey».

Let’s go babe!

Turn up the volume! My Magic Mirror finished (for now).

What do we need?

Well, in addition to your desire, to develop a project similar (or surely improved) to the one explained in this tutorial, a few little things, although nothing difficult to get or especially expensive:

Raspberry Pi with a clean install of Raspbian. In my case I used a Raspberry 3B+ although I know that other models can be used, including the Zero and the brand new Raspberry Pi 4.
Quality MicroSD card . In my case, I use a 32 GB SanDisk but it is feasible to use a smaller capacity.
Television or computer monitor of the size you want depending on the type of Magic Mirror you have in mind. (I used a 24-inch waste monitor – or so I think – purchased from a thrift store for € 5.).
VGA-HDMI adapter . In my case, since my old monitor did not have the necessary HDMI input to connect it to the Raspberry. Specifically, I am referring to something like the image and that, in my case, I acquired here .

HDMI cable . The shorter the better for saving space in the «back room».
Wireless and usb keyboard and mouse. Required only for the initial configuration of the Raspberry. Then you can do without them.
A reusable frame to build the structure that must support the mirror or the wood necessary for it . After several tests, this second one was the option that I chose.
Some knowledge of English. As always happens in the DIY world, as you want to delve into any project, the Spanish pages are falling short and sooner rather than later, you will need to consult English pages. Even so, you should not worry excessively since on the Internet you will also find enough information in Spanish to cope. So if you don’t control Shakespeare’s language, it shouldn’t be a reason to be discouraged either. Also … You always have the Google Translate!
And the essence of the «invention», a spy mirror, also called a two-way mirror , among other denominations, or if you opt for a more homemade and economic option, a simple glass and a mirror-effect vinyl to go as a «maker» plan now total. There are also other possibilities such as using reflective glass like the typical ones that are placed on the facades of some buildings, for example. In any case, as this is undoubtedly the most complicated part of the entire project, we will dedicate a specific section within this post.

What if we complicate it a bit?

The above would be the basics and more than enough to mount your Magic Mirror in conditions but what self-respecting maker settles for the right thing? Phew! once you start and if you are a curious person, you will probably want to experiment with other functions and provide your new mirror with infinity of «magic tricks» that will serve to make you look like a champion when your friends go to your house and want to pester them with your mirror. So, let’s see some things that I have incorporated into my project:

SONOFF wireless switch (or other brand, obviously) to control the on and off of the screen easily. Like many other SONOFF devices, this switch works with the EweLink App (also available for IOs) as well as seamlessly integrating with Alexa and Google Home. This will allow you to program the monitor on and off (for that of the Planet and such) or, simply, make it work with the voice command that you assign in your assistant. More «magic» for our project! In my case, in addition to installing it inside the structure, I have it working integrated with Alexa. Specifically, this is the device that I used .

External hard drive for storage. Well, it’s that simple. To my project I have added a simple external hard drive removed from an old laptop and kept in a drawer for years. Obviously, it is connected to the Raspberry and hidden behind the mirror. Essentially he used it to store my music that I hear through the Alexa devices of my house through the Skill My Media for Alexa to which I will dedicate a post later. Beyond this and making regular backups of the Magic Mirror’s own settings, I give it no other function. Essentially it is a way of optimizing resources and, above all, using the rear space of the Magic Mirror to “hide” some gadget that would otherwise be taking up space.
Various sensors connected by the Raspi GPIO . Obviously, if the brain of the whole invention is a Raspberry, it is not difficult to intuit that your Magic Mirror can be improved with all kinds of sensors connected to the GPIO that allow showing or implementing functionalities that greatly enrich the project. In my case and waiting for new orders, I have installed two sensors interacting with the mirror software:
- DHT22 indoor temperature and humidity sensor working with the MMM-LocalTemperature module although there are other modules also aimed at the inclusion of this type of sensors in our project (rest assured that later we will talk in detail about the modules, essential for the “invention ”Works).
- And the one that, modestly, I consider the «jewel in the crown» of my project … the Sensor PAJ7620u2 (Grove Gesture) working with the MMM-GroveGesture module . In my case, I got it here. Something expensive (€ 18.89) but, I can assure you, it is worth it apart from coming already welded and ready to “connect”, due to the many possibilities of interaction it offers to control your Magic Mirror. In any case, there are other cheaper alternatives that perhaps can work for you after you control some code and, perhaps, solder. For example, I previously tried this sensor although I had to leave it as impossible and finally order the right one. If you don’t do well by microchipping, I suggest you don’t even try. In the section dedicated to third-party modules I will talk more about the PAJ7620u2 sensor and its possibilities.

Building the framework

After all of the above, it is time to get down to business. Taking for granted that you already have all the necessary materials (rest assured that we will talk about glass later on) and that, above all, you have a clear idea of what you want to do, it’s time to show that you really are a true maker and not just a simple one geek who spends his sad free hours in front of the computer screen. It is time to get serious, take out the tools and start manufacturing or recycling the structure (frame) that will support the entire invention.

There are countless posts on the Internet that explain, step by step, how to proceed in this regard, either if you want to build your brand new frame from scratch or if you choose to recycle one that you have on hand. I opted for the first option, using for the task a good handful of wooden slats (of a fairly good quality, by the way) from an old bed base that had been cornered in the storage room. The possibilities are endless in this regard, as much as your imagination. What is very important is that before you start cutting boards like crazy, be clear about what you want to do, well in your head, well reflected in some sketch. In addition, you should bear in mind that the frame that will house the Magic Mirror must have some «background» to be able to contain the necessary devices, You should also consider that the measurements of the same will largely depend on the measurements of the monitor or television that you plan to use. You can choose to have the mirror adjust to those measurements and that the information covers the entire surface of the glass, or, as in my case, you can choose a glass and frame larger than the screen you are going to use so that the information is displayed only in one part of the Magic Mirror, leaving the rest as a simple mirror.

I am not going to stop expressly in the details of the construction of the frame since I am not an expert in carpentry (or anything, I’m afraid) and because, as I already indicated, there are infinite number of very good «tutos» for it. As a sample (you will find many more on the Internet), here are some of them that inspired me to build my mirror frame:

Magic Mirror – The casing : In English. Michael Teeuw himself guides us on the construction of the frame.
Building MirrorMirror: In English. A complete tutorial on the whole process and also, of course, for the construction of the frame. The frame of my mirror largely follows what is explained here.
Building the Frame: In English. Magic Mirror Community Forum on the framework issue.
Magic Mirror using an IKEA RIBBA framework: In English. Within the possibilities, you can also recycle a frame that you already have around or that you acquire for the occasion.

I already have the frame controlled… Let’s go to the screen

At this point, we should think about preparing our monitor or television. For this, it is advisable to strip it (carefully) of the plastic casing in order to save space and avoid that the screen has too much depth since this would condition the “background” that we are going to give to the frame where we will place our mirror. When performing this operation, be careful not to overload the controls to manage the brightness and other of the monitor (if it is what you are going to use) since they will later be necessary to control these aspects of it.

The screen «embedded» in the Magic Mirror

Although on the Internet you can find some attempts in this regard, if you intend to recycle the screen of an old tablet, laptop or even mobile (there are projects for all tastes) you should bear in mind that it may not be such a good idea. These devices, in principle at least, may perhaps have video output (VGA, HDMI or other) but in the vast majority, they do not have an input which is what we will really need to «project» our Magic Mirror from the Raspberry on the chosen screen. In any case, if you are one of the “willing” makers and a staunch lover of recycling, you can try it, but you should know that, in all probability, you will need to purchase a suitable “video controller” for the model of your device in order to be able to transmit the image from the Raspi to your brand new and recycled screen. Searching the Internet you will find the necessary information for it. A challenge that, of course, I preferred to save myself, of course.

The glass problem

And I say problem because, without a doubt, it is the most delicate part of the whole project and I am not saying it because it can break (which also, although I hope you are not so “big”) but because of the difficulty in obtaining a double-track mirror. , in addition to the remarkable price that they usually have. In any case, we always have viable alternatives to ensure that our project «crystallizes» and avoid staying on the road.

In essence, what we need (well bought, well «manufactured») is a mirror that on the one hand does, more or less, its function (it would be the face that, obviously, we would place outwards in our Magic Mirror) and that on the another allows the light of the screen that we are going to use to pass. The rest of the rear surface of the mirror that is not occupied with the monitor or TV, we must «opaque» it completely in order to avoid any light filtering through the glass, beyond that projected by our screen with the information we want to show. For this purpose, I simply used something as simple as black cardboard and matte electrical tape.

In this regard and in summary, there are several options available to resolve the issue of glass:

Spy or double track mirror: This, without a doubt, would be the best option in terms of results (and also the most expensive by far). However, the fundamental problem lies, in addition to the price, in that it is not at all easy to find this type of material at least in Spain. Probably your first impulse is to go to the neighborhood glassware and ask the countryman on duty about the matter. It does not hurt to do it but, in all probability, the friend will look at you with a strange face and will not be able to solve the problem. This does not mean, of course, that there can be no national glassware that supplies this type of product, but, of course, it is not an easy task. Regarding the option of acquiring it on the Internet, it is not an easy matter, at least from the Canary Islands, which is where I reside, since, for example, Amazon – where I have seen that they are offered – does not send (like many others) this type of materials to the archipelago. From what I have found out about it, there is the possibility of ordering your spy mirror online from a foreign supplier. For example, back in Germany (I think) there is a guy who is in charge of managing your order and sending it to your home, yes, at a really remarkable price. I know that a colleague interested in this world has opted for this route, with very good results. In case you were interested, at a really remarkable price. I know that a colleague interested in this world has opted for this route, with very good results. In case you were interested, at a really remarkable price. I know that a colleague interested in this world has opted for this route, with very good results. In case you were interested, here you will find information about it if the friend is still in the «business». Likewise, here I leave you a list of providers in which, as you can see, none of Spain is listed.
«Mirror effect» glass for windows and facades: Widely used in architecture, they are easy to find in large glassware. There are different types, qualities and brands and, in general, they offer an optimal result although they tend to show a remarkably obscured reflection (purely a matter of physical science in which we will not stop). On the contrary, they count in their favor with their moderate cost and the ease of finding them. Come to a good glassware and ask if you are interested in this option.
Mirror effect vinyl: Finally, the most affordable option, although probably the one with the worst results in terms of the quality of the reflection offered by our Magic Mirror, is to use a «mirror effect» vinyl to adhere it to the glass (in this case, a glass normal) that we use for our “invention”. This, finally, is the alternative that I chose in the construction of my Magic Mirror. I anticipate that although it is the most affordable and viable option, you must arm yourself with patience because the installation of the vinyl is not easy (unless you do not mind that your mirror is full of bubbles and scratches of all kinds, of course). In my case, I opted for the online purchase of this product which, without a doubt, is one of the best quality you can find on the market. In any case, I highly recommend that you buy more meters than you initially think you will need, since it is likely that a good part will be wasted testing to obtain the desired result (a mirror more or less in condition). In the previous link you will also find this video (in Spanish) that explains how to perform the delicate operation of placing the vinyl. Although in the video it seems very easy, I assure you from experience that it is not.

To finish this section, we recommend that you either acquire a double-track mirror or a simple transparent glass to incorporate a vinyl, it must have a minimum thickness of 4 mm or more in order to properly support the pressure of the devices to place behind it while avoiding dangerous breakages when handling it. It is true that the greater the thickness, the darker the “mirror” effect achieved, but safety above all.

Also, I am aware that there are people who have replaced glass with methacrylate or other materials. I refer to it but I do not go into details since I did not get to experiment on it.

Setting up our Magic Mirror

It touches the moment of entering the Software part, both of the Raspberry and of the Magic Mirror itself. Obviously, we could have started our project (and perhaps it would be the most recommended) for this more part of «code» and «console» and not for the more «manual» aspects discussed above but, in any case, this is already a matter of taste and what you have on hand. In short, if you have the wood, you can start with the frame and if what you have is a forgotten Raspberry, picking up dust in a drawer, it starts here. The question is to start and get excited about the project without waiting to have all the necessary elements for its development.

Launching our Raspberry

As I mentioned before, in my case I have used a Raspberry 3B + with Raspbian but you can use other Raspi models without problems. You will find information for this on the Internet.

I assume that you have some knowledge on how to «get started» your Raspberry but when in doubt the best thing is to pull people who really know about these things and follow their steps and recommendations, point by point. In this sense and how little could I add to what others have already written as much more knowledge of cause, here I leave you the necessary links so that you can properly configure your minicomputer:

Setting up your Raspberry Pi . In English. Nothing better than going to the Raspberry Foundation to learn how to start up our device.
Install operating system on Raspberry with Noobs . In Spanish. Courtesy of Luis Llamas.
Install operating system on Raspberry with Noobs . In Spanish. Courtesy of “Raspberry for clumsy” (all is said).

It is important to consider that although in the previous links you can find other alternatives, it is recommended that you install the «official» Raspberry (Raspbian) operating system in order to develop our Magic Mirror project. So there is no doubt about it, in this link you will find the necessary files. Keep this in mind if, as usual, you use Noobs (a quick installation tool with different operating systems to choose from) when configuring your Raspberry.

Finally and as you will quickly see, it is precisely at this moment when you are going to need to use the keyboard and mouse that we mentioned among the «necessary», at the beginning of this tutorial, in order to configure your Raspberry.

Note that since the Raspberry is going to be hidden behind the mirror along with other devices that will obviously generate heat, it is important to ensure its adequate ventilation to avoid unnecessary “heaters”. It will be enough to guarantee some ventilation holes in the frame and equip our microcomputer with the typical heatsinks and a small fan.

Installing and configuring the Magic Mirror

And the great moment has arrived! Finally we are going to start with the installation of the necessary software so that our Magic Mirror comes to life.

Once we have properly configured Raspbian on our Raspberry, it is time to install the necessary packages for our Magic Mirror. The most recommended, as always, is to go to the original source and follow, step by step, the indicated instructions. In this regard, here I leave you the necessary links where you will find all the information to proceed correctly:

Installation & Usage Magic Mirror 2. In English. Official documentation for the installation of MagicMirror 2.
Installation and user manual for Magic Mirror 2. In English. GitbHuh repository contributed by Michael Teeuw himself (MichMich).
Installing and configuring Magic Mirror on Raspberry Pi . In Spanish. An interesting contribution collected on the blog bujarra.com (as is).
Raspberry Forum on Magic Mirror. In Spanish. It is always a good idea to take a tour of the many existing forums in the Magic Mirror community to clarify any doubts that may arise.

Configuring the modules of our Magic Mirror

One of the most interesting features of the Magic Mirror in my opinion is its modular character. That is, once the basic package that already comes with default modules is installed, an immense range of possibilities opens up to install infinity of third-party modules developed by the active community around these types of projects.

Most of the modules (not always) indicate how to carry out the installation, which is always similar. In essence, it consists of cloning via console the repository that corresponds to the module chosen within the directory «/home/pi/MagicMirror/modules/» which, if everything went well, you should find in the indicated path. In addition, it is possible that in some cases you will be asked to install certain dependencies, all through your terminal. Once this process is done, you must edit the file “config.js” that you will find in the path “/home/pi/MagicMirror/config/” to include in it the basic configuration of the module as well as choosing between the different options that the author of the same proposes you.

Without a doubt, the configuration of the “config.js” file can be the most tedious and delicate part of the matter since we have already entered into the field of “codes” which for someone like me, little experienced in the matter, is obviously the most complicated. If you control over these issues and you are used to fiddling with Linux distributions, it will be a piece of cake, and if, as in my case, it is not so, then be patient and, above all, do not forget to always make a backup copy of the file «config.js” before making any changes to it.

However, it is not difficult to “get the hang of it”, especially if you follow the initial basic configuration examples that you will find in the software installation documentation itself. It is very important that you pay close attention to the syntax of the “config.js” file because any small error can prevent your Magic Mirror from loading correctly. In any case, if after any change in the configuration, the mirror does not start properly, look at the error line that the console will show you in order to solve it.

Likewise, if the module configuration requires it (it is not usual) or if you simply want to experiment with it, you can also make changes to the style configuration through the generic configuration file “custom.css” that you should find in «/Home/p /MagicMirror/css/» as well as the different «filename.css» of each module that you will find in their corresponding directories. Be that as it may, go ahead with my recommendation to handle these files with «prudence» and always make backup copies before you «fiddle» with the codes. You are warned!

Installing third-party modules

Perhaps the most «fun» part of the entire project. There are countless modules developed by the community that are the ones that really, once the default modules are installed, are going to give life and personality to your Magic Mirror.

Remember that the “default modules” that you will have in the initial installation, also accept configuration modifications. For if it is an idea and among other modifications that I have introduced in the default modules, in my case, the messages of the “Compliments” module are adapted to the weather forecast as well as the time of day. That is, apart from some generics, the advice offered will depend on the weather and the time of day. Likewise, in my case I use the «Calendar» module to know the forecast of the tides of the Beach in my city as well as the time of sunrise and sunset. For its part, the NewFeeds module is «duplicated», showing in one news from my area and in another international news.

Entering properly into the «third-party modules», in essence, there are two fundamental repositories to search and test third-party modules. You will find both on GitHub. Here are the links:

3rd Party Modules. The list of modules par excellence, ordered by subject. Most are «operational» but it is also common to find some «abandoned». It is all a matter of trying.
Legacy Modules. Alphabetically ordered list of modules. Sometimes you will find, basically, the same or previous versions of those already existing in the previous list. Also here you can find interesting and fully operational modules.

Third-party modules installed in my project

During these months dedicated to the construction of the Magic Mirror, I have tried infinity of modules (not all the existing ones, far from it, of course) until the end I stayed with the selection that I will relate below. Of course, this is absolutely arbitrary and the modules to install will depend exclusively on your needs, tastes and preferences. You will find all the indicated modules in the previous links, especially in the first one (3rd Party Modules).

Since, as I indicate, this is a very personal matter, I will limit myself to simply mentioning the modules that I currently have installed (you never know what will happen tomorrow) and I will comment on some aspect that you may consider of interest about them:

MMM-pages. Essential if you plan to install many modules. It allows you to organize them on different pages. There are other interesting alternatives to achieve something similar, such as MMM-Carousel that allows you to “switch” between modules.
MMM-UVIndex. Module that informs me about the intensity of UVA Rays in my locality.
MMM-AirQuality. It indicates the air quality in my locality.
MMM-Tools. Essential to know how your “Raspi” is going. I use CPU, RAM, temperature and others …
MMM-Buller. The solution that I use (very useful for me) to visualize my Google Task tasks in the mirror.
MMM-CalendarExt2. Something complicated to configure but very versatile. A very complete alternative to the default calendar.
MMM-DarkSkyForecast. One of the many modules on time available. Very visually appealing and easy to set up.
MMM-TouchPlayerBasic. A music player as simple as it is not very useful. Essentially a curiosity.
MMM-network-signal. Well that.
MMM-GoogleFit. A very curious but somewhat limited module that allows you to view your activity synchronized with Google Fit.
MMM-GoogleFit2. The same but for a second person.
MMM-BackgroundSlideshow. Allows you to place a series of background images (occupying the entire screen) and automatically rotate between them.
MMM-SimpleLogo. Well that. An easy way to place a specific image in any space.
MMM-NewsFeedTicker. A very «cool» module although it can be improved. You can configure news sources that will be happening in a strip (typical of the news).
MMM-Widget. It allows you to insert any type of Widget into your Magic Mirror. In my case, I have three dedicated to my favorite football team inserted.
MMM-LocalTemperature. Paired with the DHT22 sensor that we discussed earlier. It allows me to know the temperature and humidity inside.
MMM-TelegramBot. Very interesting. It allows you some control over your Magic Mirror through, obviously, Telegram.
MMM-Cursor. A simple mouse cursor useful when the mirror gets rebellious or you want to do some simple operation. Obviously, you have to have a wireless mouse connected to your Magic Mirror.
MMM-GroveGestures. We also discussed something in the previous installment. Paired with the sensor Sensor PAJ7620u2 (Grove Gesture) allows gestures to control the mirror. Without a doubt, a very interesting alternative about whose possibilities you have already been able to visualize a small demonstration in this video already published in this same tutorial. Given the interest that I understand this module can arouse, we will dedicate a special section to it later.
MMM-page-indicator. It indicates to us, by means of a small circle located at the bottom of each page, the number of pages of your Magic Mirror and which one you are on. It has no more function.
MMM-ImageSlideshow. It allows to insert an image in a simple way. I use it for a small «menu» reminder of the gestures I use and that I have posted at the bottom of all pages.
MMM-MotionDetector. Among other functions, it can be used to program the screen on and off based on the movement detected by a camera. Although it worked perfectly, right now I have disabled it and removed the camera from the Magic Mirror for simple security reasons. The question of turning the screen on and off has finally been solved with the SONOFF wireless switch already mentioned in the previous installment and with the MMM-GroveGestures that offers an option in this regard through gestures.
MMM-GooglePhotos. Obviously, a module that allows you to view your photo albums from Google Photos. It works without problems although at the moment I have it disabled since I have the impression that it consumes excessive resources and slows down the entire system, not to mention that it directly «knocks it down».

In which areas of the screen do I place my modules?

Well, this is not a minor issue, especially when you start accumulating modules and more modules and the «available» space is running out. As I have already indicated, there are solutions if your intention is to fill the Magic with modules but it is also relevant to know the different «areas» or «regions» where you can locate the information to be displayed by your modules. Most of them will tell you which is the best area to locate them although, in many cases, it will only be an optional recommendation (not in some modules that «only» will work correctly for you in the location that their author indicates). For all this, this simple graphic explanation of the different useful areas of your Magic Mirror when organizing the modules was very useful to me:

And here the explanation of the previous color codes:

top_bar and bottom_bar are light gray.
top_left and bottom_left are red.
top_center and bottom_center are blue
top_right and bottom_right are green
upper_third is yellow
middle_center is cyan
lower_third is magenta

And since “well-born is to be grateful”, here is the original link from where I obtained the above information.

Something more about the MMM-GroveGestures

Looking for a system to interact with my Magic Mirror, beyond the voice control that did not motivate me especially, having already experimented a lot with the Alexa and Google Home devices and not being especially novel, I stumbled upon the MMM_GroveGestures module. Through it and with the aforementioned PAJ7620u2 sensor (Grove Gesture) connected to our Raspberry through, obviously, the appropriate pins of the GPIO, it is possible to control your Magic Mirror by gestures from a maximum distance (approximately) of about 20 cm. It offers by default nine different gestures (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, FORWARD, BACKWARD, CLOCKWISE, ANTI-CLOCKWISE AND WAVE) but, in addition, it allows you to perform combinations of two, three or more movements with them, which multiplies the possibilities exponentially. Logically, if you create many «combinations of gestures», in addition to testing your memory, you will also increase the chances of errors when executing them since the sensitivity of the sensor is quite remarkable.

This system will allow you not only to send notifications to your Magic Mirror and to those modules that accept such functionality but also and this seems very relevant to me, executing commands with your Raspberry as if you were working with the console.

For example, in my case I have a series of gestures linked to the «mpg123» program, which allows me to listen to music from the external hard drive integrated in the mirror (a Playlist previously configured to be specific) as well as increase and decrease the volume, between other functions. Although it would obviously be easy to integrate a few simple speakers into the Magic, right now and until I find the right ones, I use an external speaker connected by bluetooth or cable, depending on your mood.

As I have already mentioned and among other possibilities, you can also use the sensor to activate your screen or, after the time you specify without receiving any gesture, get it to turn off automatically. In short, multiple options that I encourage you to explore.

Final assembly of the Magic Mirror

Obviously, at some point, we will have to do the «assembly» of the entire invention. That is to say, place our Raspberry, screen and other elements within the structure that we have manufactured for our Magic Mirror. Since the possibilities in this regard are endless and will depend largely on our preferences and objectives, I limit myself to sharing some images of the «guts» of my Magic Mirror that I hope will be useful to proceed with the final assembly of it:

And there is more?

You are right. There is much more but, for now, I have come this far and I think I will not continue to delve much deeper into the issue either, since I am relatively satisfied with the final result of my project, even if it is ugly that I say so.

Just as a point, and as an example of other existing possibilities, I do not forget the implementation of the project with voice control (both with Alexa and Google Home), for which there are numerous module options , or something that seems to me even More interesting as well as complex, such as facial recognition and the possibilities of personalized response of the Magic Mirror that it offers. In the links to the third-party modules you will also find proposals in this regard.

What will be next?

As I said almost at the beginning of the post, when you start it is really difficult to stop with these types of projects given the number of possibilities it offers. Although I have already officially terminated the Magic Mirror, it is no less true that I am waiting to receive a PIR sensor and a KY-040 rotary switch so I can continue «experimenting» although, honestly, I do not know if I will have free pins at the GPIO to continue connecting gossips to the Raspberry.