A smart mirror is an innovative blend of traditional mirror ant technology, offering the user a variety of functionalities beyond mere reflection. From weather updates, time, traffic conditions, mails, news, to a plethora of other personalized information, a smart mirror is a device that has changed the way we look at mirrors. The pulsating core of a smart mirror is its operating system (OS). Installation of this OS can appear complex, but this comprehensive guide will help dispel any doubt and make the task seamless.
Choosing the Right Operating System
The first step in establishing your smart mirror is selecting the appropriate OS. Where this is concerned, you have a variety of options. However, Raspberry Pi OS and Android OS are the two most prevalent. Raspberry Pi OS is a Debian-based operating system for Raspberry Pi. It comes pre-programmed with software like Python (a high-level programming language) and Scratch (a visual programming language) on top of its capability to perform multiple tasks like a regular OS. An Android OS, on the other hand, provides a user-friendly interface making it easy to customize the information displayed on your smart mirror.
Installing Raspberry Pi OS
To install Raspberry Pi OS on your smart mirror, begin by downloading the recent version of the OS from the official Raspberry Pi website. Next, write the image into the SD card using a program like Etcher. Connect the Raspberry Pi to your Smart Mirror and insert the SD card. Turn it on, and the OS will automatically boot up.
On the desktop, navigate to the ‘Preferences’ option in the main menu and select ‘Raspberry Pi Configuration’. In the ‘System’ tab, alter the name of your Raspberry Pi network and select the ‘To CLI’ option in ‘Boot.’ Click ‘OK’ and restart your Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi OS has now been configured.
Installing MagicMirror^2
The second step in setting up your Raspberry Pi powered smart mirror is installing the MagicMirror^2 software. Begin by opening the terminal and updating your system using the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgradeAfter the system update, install Node.js and npm by executing:
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_10.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y node.jsWhen Node.js and npm are installed, download and install the MagicMirror^2 software by running:
bash -c "$(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh)"After the installation, MagicMirror^2 will start automatically every time you boot your Raspberry Pi.
Installing Android OS on Smart Mirror
Installing an Android OS on your smart mirror involves a somewhat different process. Your first step is to find and download the latest Android image compatible with your system. After downloading, use a program such as Etcher to write the Android image file onto your microSD card.
Once the image file has been successfully written onto your SD card, insert the card into your smart mirror and turn it on. The Android OS should boot automatically, displaying a setup screen. Here, you may need to connect your smart mirror to your home network and sign in to your Google account.
After setting up, navigate through the system and locate the ‘Display’ settings. Under this setting, select the ‘Screensaver’ option, choose ‘When to Start’ and select ‘Either.’ Next, choose ‘Start Now’ to turn your Android device into a smart mirror display.
Smart Mirror Apps Installation
The next important step in setting up your smart mirror is the application installation. The type of application you need depends on the information you want to display on your mirror. Android OS users can download mirror-friendly apps from the Google Play store.
Magic Mirror dashboard app, for example, displays local weather, time, date, and news headlines. WallMirror is another popular app that provides customizable widgets for time and date, weather forecast, news headlines, calendar events, and reminders.
For the Raspberry Pi OS users, modules are used rather than apps. Some popular and useful MagicMirror^2 modules include the default clock and calendar modules, the weather forecast module, the news feed module, and the compliments module.
Final Adjustments
Finally, tweak your settings according to your preferences. This could be adjusting the screen’s timeout settings, optimizing the layout and orientation of the app, or setting up regular automatic updates for your OS and applications.
Arming your mirror with an OS is the first step in transforming it into a device that is more than just a reflective surface. The process is fairly simple if you follow the steps outlined. Remember, the choice of OS largely depends on your comfort and familiarity with the system. Raspberry Pi OS based mirrors will require comfort with command lines and coding, while Android OS mirrors demand less technical expertise. With your OS installed, your mirror will be well on its way to become a source of an array of updated and customized information.
