Building a Smart Mirror with MQTT Displays

11.12.2024 - Engine: Gemini

Building a Smart Mirror with MQTT Display

Materials:

• Two-way mirror
• Display (touchscreen recommended)
• Raspberry Pi or similar single-board computer
• MQTT broker
• MQTT client software (e.g., Node-RED or Mosquitto)

Steps:

Hardware Assembly:

1. Mount the display behind the two-way mirror.
2. Connect the Raspberry Pi and display to power and each other.

Software Setup:

Install MQTT Broker:

1. Install an MQTT broker on your Raspberry Pi, such as Mosquitto.
2. Start the broker service.

Setup MQTT Client:

1. Install Node-RED or another MQTT client on your Raspberry Pi.
2. Create a flow or script that listens to messages from a specified MQTT topic.
3. Configure the client to connect to the MQTT broker.

Create Mirror Interface:

1. Develop a web-based user interface or a native app for the mirror.
2. Integrate MQTT functionality so the interface can receive and display messages from the client.

MQTT Integration:

1. Configure Node-RED or your MQTT client to subscribe to MQTT messages from the broker.
2. Send MQTT messages from the Raspberry Pi or another device containing the desired information.
3. Design the mirror interface to display the received messages in real time.

Example Display:

Consider displaying the following information via MQTT:

• Time and date
• Weather forecast
• News headlines
• Calendar events
• Smart home controls

Additional Features:

• Voice Control: Integrate a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
• Motion Detection: Detect when someone is in front of the mirror and automatically turn it on.
• Custom Widgets: Allow users to create and add their own widgets.

Conclusion:

Utilizing MQTT enables the creation of a smart mirror that displays information in real time. With custom widgets and additional features, you can create a practical and personalized device that enhances your daily routines.