Magic Mirror Research Articles

Magic Mirror: Designing a Weight Change Visualization for Domestic Use

Virtual mirrors displaying weight changes can support users in forming healthier habits by visualizing potential future body shapes. However, these often come with privacy, feasibility, and cost limitations. This paper introduces the Magic Mirror, a novel distortion-based mirror that leverages curvature effects to alter the appearance of body size while preserving privacy. We constructed the Magic Mirror and compared it to a video-based alternative. In an online study ( N =115), we determined the optimal parameters for each system, comparing weight change visualizations and manipulation levels. Afterward, we conducted a laboratory study ( N =24) to compare the two systems in terms of user perception, motivational potential, and willingness to use daily. Our findings indicate that the Magic Mirror surpasses the video-based mirror in terms of suitability for residential application, as it addresses feasibility concerns commonly associated with virtual mirrors. Our work demonstrates that mirrors that display weight changes can be implemented in users’ homes without any cameras, ensuring privacy.

Tribute VS "Nanman": The Image Construction of "Magic Mirror Type"

For over 2000 years, feudal dynasties throughout China have referred to southerners as the “Nanman” (means Southern Barbarian). However, the specific situation of the treatment of Nanman titles by various dynasties has not been explored. In addition, the Nanman never stopped paying tribute to the Central Dynasty. No one is involved in whether tribute can earn the respect that the dynasty deserves. Nowadays, big data technology can easily handle massive amounts of literature, and it is entirely possible to analyze the above issues from "official histories" (the 25 historical books) using the method of word frequency research. The words frequency shows that since the unification of Lingnan by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the feudal dynasties presented a paradox to Lingnan: The products in Lingnan were coveted, and local customs were despised. "Tribute" was used to cover up the predatory nature of Kings, and "Nanman" was used to establish political, national and cultural rank. The number of "tribute" and the meaning of "Nanman" formed the "magic mirror" development relationship in the big tree of feudal autocracy until the end of the Qing Dynasty. But on the one hand, the positive factors of "tribute" were absorbed and used by the western powers to establish their own alliances. On the other hand, they also mislead the public opinion and create trouble. Although "Nanman" has been eradicated politically, the regional discrimination and cultural misreading it contains have not been eradicated and often occurs. "Tribute" ranges from Kyushu to overseas to international relations. The connotation of "Nanman" from the orientation, nation and culture, the meaning of these two words has been spontaneously changing. It is timely to clarify their relationship and help make China revive.

IoT Based Smart E-Mirror using OpenCV with Raspberry PI

This paper describes the design, construction and working of an IoT based smart mirror. Every morning our day begins by watching ourselves at least once in mirror before leaving our homes. We interact with it psychological to find out how we look and how our attire is. Smart Mirror or Magic Mirror is one of the applications of Raspberry Pie. A computer screen embedded in mirror looks very futuristic. The Raspberry Pie stays at back scenes and controls the data displayed on mirror. While looking at mirror you can look at various notifications from social sites as well news, weather forecast and more things. Such mirrors can be programmed to work as AI and control home appliances by voice input or touch screen. The Raspberry Pi is connected to monitor via HDMI as well as it also has inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces so we can just swipe music and videos to mirror

The Magic Mirror of Ritual: Three Weddings of the Waters and the Grand Celebrations of the Erie Canal

The Magic Mirror of Ritual: Three Weddings of the Waters and the Grand Celebrations of the Erie Canal

Enchanting Images: Magic Mirrors and Moving Portraits in French Fairy Tales

Enchanting Images: Magic Mirrors and Moving Portraits in French Fairy Tales

GuitARhero: Interactive Augmented Reality Guitar Tutorials.

This article presents guitARhero, an Augmented Reality application for interactively teaching guitar playing to beginners through responsive visualizations overlaid on the guitar neck. We support two types of visual guidance, a highlighting of the frets that need to be pressed and a 3D hand overlay, as well as two display scenarios, one using a desktop magic mirror and one using a video see-through head-mounted display. We conducted a user study with 20 participants to evaluate how well users could follow instructions presented with different guidance and display combinations and compare these to a baseline where users had to follow video instructions. Our study highlights the trade-off between the provided information and visual clarity affecting the user's ability to interpret and follow instructions for fine-grained tasks. We show that the perceived usefulness of instruction integration into an HMD view highly depends on the hardware capabilities and instruction details.

Conjuring Up a King

Conjuring Up a King

Visual approach to the imaging of magic mirrors (Makyohs)

The imaging of Japanese magic mirrors (Makyohs) is discussed by comparing the visual images of the backside relief pattern under different illumination conditions and the projected Makyoh image, rather than considering the back relief pattern as the input. It is also hypothesised that for a large number of magic mirrors, the Makyoh imaging is beyond the Laplacian regime under optimum viewing conditions, which accentuates the bright regions in the image; these correspond to reflecting highlights or step edges in the visual image. Published magic mirror images support this hypothesis. Simulations of the visual and Makyoh images are also presented.

“Devil in Love” by J. Cazotte and “The Elemental Spirit” by E.T.A. Hoffmann: Symbolic and Psychological Interpretation of Motive of Temptation

The article deals with the story of the French pre-romanticist J. Cazotte “The Devil in Love” and the late novella of the German romanticist E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “Elemental Spirit”, in which, as in a “magic mirror”, recurring fantastic events of the temptation of heroes by evil spirits are presented. The relevance of the study is related to the problem of the formation of science fiction as a historical concept. It is shown that the characters have a love feeling for the messengers of the natural world. Faced with a miracle, they become participants in supernatural events and experience the “pernicious consequences of fiery imagination.” It is noted that the dream of carnal love, its bodily embodiment, sobering up are presented through a deep penetration into the psychology of the characters. It describes how the supernatural is introduced into everyday life with the help of symbolic images: a mirror, a dagger, a dream, a mother, etc. It is emphasized that the motive of temptation in conjunction with the motives of trial, fall, suffering, fate create a kind of “circle”. The novelty of the study is connected with the identification in the system of characters of the tempted person image as a direct participant (witness) of supernatural events. This approach made it possible to present a historical perspective, complicated and refined, of J. Cazotte temptation motif functioning in the romantic era in the work of E. T. A. Hoffmann and in the works of Russian writers.

CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN AUGMENTED REALITY PROJECTS

Purpose. The objective of this study is to conduct a semiotic analysis of augmented reality projects, with the aim of establishing patterns and identifying the most common conceptual metaphors. The study seeks to determine the impact of these metaphors on functional and symbolic form.
 Methodology. To achieve the research goal, the visual materials were subjected to visual-analytical, formal, functional, and semiotic analysis methods.
 Results. The present study identified the eight most common metaphors used in AR project design, namely the magic mirror, false window, active print, X-ray vision, geo-layer, aquarium, visor, and flashlight. The impact of these metaphors on the functional-figurative form can vary depending on the metaphor chosen, and may set more blurred or specific boundaries. It was found that metaphors differ not only in their figurative-semantic differences, but also in the viewer’s position regarding representation, the type of first or third-person view, the impact on the imagery of the content, and the nature of interaction with space. While most metaphors benefit from the use of three-dimensional graphics, some, such as mirrors, active print, and sights, can use two-dimensional graphics without depriving AR of the feeling of naturalness. One technique for playing with metaphors is to go beyond conventional boundaries and manipulate space. The study also revealed that AR based on video mixing more frequently uses metaphors than optical mixing, which can directly merge with the environment. It was demonstrated that using the same metaphor does not limit the creative potential in solving tasks, and leaves the designer sufficient space for maneuvering and the possibility of both literal and formal following of the metaphor. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the role of metaphors in AR project design and provide insights for designers to effectively use metaphors to enhance user experience.
 Scientific novelty. An analysis of augmented reality (AR) projects was conducted with the aim of identifying conceptual metaphors. A synthesis of these conceptual metaphors was performed, followed by a typology-based classification of the AR projects grounded in the identified metaphors.
 Practical significance. The findings of this research contribute to the theoretical foundation of designing AR products by providing a framework for representing AR design concepts. The identified metaphors can be utilized as a guide for designers to develop effective AR interfaces.

The magic mirror: a novel intraoperative monitoring method for parathyroid glands.

The accurate detection of parathyroid glands (PGs) during surgery is of great significance in thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, which protects the function of normal PGs to prevent postoperative hypoparathyroidism and the thorough removal of parathyroid lesions. Existing conventional imaging techniques have certain limitations in the real-time exploration of PGs. In recent years, a new, real-time, and non-invasive imaging system known as the near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) imaging system has been developed to detect PGs. Several studies have confirmed that this system has a high parathyroid recognition rate and can reduce the occurrence of transient hypoparathyroidism after surgery. The NIRAF imaging system, like a magic mirror, can monitor the PGs during surgery in real time, thus providing great support for surgeries. In addition, the NIRAF imaging system can evaluate the blood supply of PGs by utilizing indocyanine green (ICG) to guide surgical strategies. The NIRAF imaging system and ICG complement each other to protect normal parathyroid function and reduce postoperative complications. This article reviews the effectiveness of the NIRAF imaging system in thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies and briefly discusses some existing problems and prospects for the future.

A Transitivity Approach to Angela Carter’s Feminist Revision of “Snow White”

Angela Carter rewrites Grimm’s fairy tale “Snow White” from the feminist perspective and creates her short story “The Snow Child”. Carter keeps the indispensable element, namely the magic mirror, but renders it invisible. Through it, Carter secretly reveals the mirror images between the Countess and the snow child, providing new insight into the Countess’s motivation to kill the child. An analysis of the transitivity system in the short story reveals that Carter deepens the theme from ostensible “female jealousy” to “oppressed female seeking liberation” in an attempt to encourage target readers (adult women) to challenge patriarchal forces and seek liberation. It meets the propaganda of the second feminist movement to pursue women’s freedom and sexual initiative. An in-depth exploration of the feminist ideology in this rewritten work can not only supplement the one-sided interpretation of “The Snow Child” by previous critics, but also reveal Carter’s unremitting efforts to make the classic fairy tale get rid of the label of “a carrier of the toxic patriarchal myths that are used to deceive women”, help it meet the trends of the contemporary era, and inject contemporary meaning into the classic fairy tale.

Magic mirror on the wall: Cross-buying at the point of sale

Stationary retailers may introduce new technologies, such as augmented reality, to provide product information and recommendations and thus improve shopping experience. Examples of such augmented reality applications are magic mirrors that enable virtual try-on and may induce cross-buying intention. Based on an experimental scenario and the corresponding results from 301 questionnaires, we find that magic mirrors positively impact consumers’ cross-buying intention. Cross-buying behavior depends particularly on price attractiveness and the aesthetic appeal of the products. Further, men place less emphasis on price attractiveness when considering cross-buying options than women. Whereas magic mirrors reduce the relationship between perceived product benefits and cross-buying behavior, the technology increases the positive effect of perceived convenience on consumers’ buying behavior. Magic mirrors, thus, improve convenience but hinder the perception of product benefits – these are better communicated by sales assistants. Magic mirrors may only partly replace sales staff, but retailers can combine both to serve consumers better.

Smart Mirror using Raspberry Pi

Abstract: This project has been developed within the context of a time where every day we see more and more connected devices. The Internet transformed our lives by connecting us more easily to information and other people in the virtual world. Mobile phones then became smartphones and since then this concept has erupted and morphed into the Internet of Things, things that connect us to everyday objects. There is no end to objects that could be made “smarter”, some being more suited to this than others. Mirrors, for example, provide a large surface ideal for displaying information and interacting with it. Most people have mirrors at home so the concept of a smart mirror that you can interact with is attractive and has been fantasized about in many futuristic movies. Smart mirrors, such as Magic Mirror and Home Mirror, have been only developed by people in the Maker community, with varying degrees of interactivity. However, so far, the features of these mirrors have been limited. This final year project describes how a smart mirror was built from scratch using a Raspberry Pi for the hardware and custom software built on top of Raspbian, a Linux distribution. The goal of the project was to create a Smart Mirror device that people could interact with but also to further develop the technology so that it would let you install and develop your own applications for it. Overall, results were good because a higher level of interactivity has been achieved by being able to use voice commands, gestures, and smartphones. A few problems arose in the construction and software side of the project, such as the glass not being reflective enough and the gesture recognition being unreliable, but these drawbacks can be addressed by doing more tests and trials to further develop the Smart Mirror

IoT based Smart Mirror Using Raspberry PI

Abstract: This paper describes the design, construction and working of an IoT based smart mirror. Every morning our day begins by watching ourselves at least once in mirror before leaving our homes. We interact with it psychologically to find out how we look and how our attire is. Smart Mirror or Magic Mirror is one of the applications of Raspberry Pie. A computer screen embedded in mirror looks very futuristic. The Raspberry Pie stays at back scenes and controls the data displayed on mirror. While looking at mirror you can look at various notifications from social sites as well news, weather forecast and more things. Such mirrors can be programmed to work as AI and control home appliances by voice input or touch screen. The Raspberry Pie is connected to monitor via HDMI as well as it also has inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces so we can just swipe music and videos to mirror.

Verification of deformation of thin mirror by polishing pressure using additive manufacturing

In this study, magic and deformable mirrors were fabricated using an additive manufacturing (AM) process. This was to confirm the magic mirror effect caused by the grinding pressure of the mirrors produced by the AM-based manufacturing process. For verification, eight magic mirrors were fabricated under different conditions. The results showed that the magic mirror effect occurred on two mirrors with a diameter of 10 mm and wall thicknesses of 0.1 and 0.2 mm. AM is easy to machine thin-wall; therefore, a pneumatically deformable mirror was fabricated. The shape-control performance through air pressure fluctuations was confirmed. In this study, magic mirrors and deformable mirrors have been successfully fabricated using additive manufacturing technology. The method proposed in this study enabled the efficient production of lightweight and thin mirrors.

ЗРИТЕЛЬСКОЕ ВОСПРИЯТИЕ ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННОГО ОБРАЗА: ОТ СОЗНАТЕЛЬНОГО К БЕССОЗНАТЕЛЬНОМУ И ОБРАТНО

The author relies on psychological and philosophical concepts underlying the understanding and interpretation of fine art. This article is dedicated to a multifaceted analysis based on the psychological studies of the visual arts developed by renowned authorities such as Dui Tran Hoang Le, Paul Schrader, Julie C. Garlen, and Jennifer A. Sandlin. Based on these concepts, any work of fine art, be it a painting, a cartoon, or a stylized drawing, is considered a magic mirror that allows the viewer to look at the object from two different positions — internal and external, while also looking into themself. According to these psychological theories, a work of fine art is, in many ways, like such a mirror — a window into the inner world. Animation is the sharpest window, giving the most prominent and clear image, and the author gives insight into the historical background of such a unique and brilliant visual art form that has combined art with cinema for many generations. There is also emphasis placed on animation artists and aspiring animation-style artists whose practices are well-aligned with this skill that allows an art piece to enable deep reflection that allows an individual to look inward and then outward, and vice versa. These practitioners also utilize such a skill to convey the emotional background inherent in an art subject, which largely determines the perception of the creation by the viewer.

Smart Mirror using IoT and Raspberry Pi

Abstract: Smart mirrors as a concept are growing rapidly. These mirrors directly affect the day to day lives of the people as it provides customization and a luxurious lifestyle. With the help of devices like smart mirrors people are getting exposed to technology and are in turn contributing to a tech supported lifestyle. The smart mirror is one such device where a normal mirror acts as a smart device which consists of a user interface with which the user can interact. This paper proposes a model which is robust and can be utilized by individuals in their day to day lives. The proposed model in this paper is in the form of a mirror developed with a combination of hardware and software. The mirror incorporates Oracle VM Virtual Box which supports the Raspbian OS. The model uses the Magic Mirror Module on the software part to implement different features like Calendar, Music App, Weather Forecast, News etc. These features are implemented using their respective API’s. The proposed model can be scaled to add more and more features thus making it more robust, also the model is very cost effective. With the help of this people would be able to ease their lifestyle a bit and automate things as much as possible.

Modelling of the backside pattern transfer in magic mirror (Makyoh) imaging

A model of magic-mirror (Makyoh) imaging with the mirror backside relief as the input is described. The mechanical pattern transfer is modelled by a convolution approach while the optical imaging using a nonlinear geometrical optical model, more general than previous approaches. Characteristic features of the imaging is analysed and the linear approximation is examined. Diffraction effects are also treated. Characteristic features for the ancient mirror and applications in semiconductor wafer inspection are discussed.

Through the “Magic Mirror”: Adapting Angela Carter’s Japanese Writings for the Silver Screen

Abstract This article outlines the development of a feature-length screenplay adaptation of Angela Carter’s short story “Flesh and the Mirror,” situating it within a critical discussion of her metaleptic narrative strategies and the challenges of translating them to the screen. The screenplay incorporates Carter’s Japanese short stories and journalism, which are said to be her most autobiographical writings. The article explores Carter’s attitude to life writing and highlights the dangers of a straightforward biographical adaptation, contextualizing her Japanese writings within her wider engagement with Japanese literature and the I-novel. It demonstrates how the screenplay aims to emulate Carter’s playful experimentation with narrative form, overlapping metaphors of magic mirrors, puppetry, theater, and film sets, attempting a delicate balancing act of transposing Carter’s “literary gymnastics” to the silver screen.