Okay, so I decided to make one of those Google Assistant smart mirrors. You know, the ones you see online that look all futuristic. Seemed like a decent weekend project. Or so I thought. Turns out, these things are a bit more involved than just plugging stuff in.
Getting the Bits and Bobs
First up, gathering all the parts. That was adventure number one. You need a Raspberry Pi, obviously. I had an old Pi 3B+ just collecting dust, so that was easy enough. Saved a few bucks there. Then, the monitor. I wasn’t about to splash out on a new one just for this. So, I dug out an old laptop, one with a busted keyboard, and decided to rip its screen out. Let me tell you, de-casing a laptop screen without snapping any of the delicate ribbon cables is a nerve-wracking experience. Almost binned it twice.
The two-way mirror glass. This is the magic bit. Ordered it online. Took forever to arrive, and when it did, of course, there was a tiny, almost invisible scratch right in the middle. Just my luck. You live with it, I guess. For the frame, I initially thought, “Hey, I can build a wooden frame! How hard can it be?” Turns out, pretty hard if you’re me and your woodworking skills are, let’s say, basic. My first attempt looked like something a beaver chewed up. I ended up simplifying it massively. Some people get really fancy with custom frames. I’ve seen some neat, clean designs for tech projects, almost like those custom enclosures you sometimes see from niche makers like missmeeca, who seem to make durable stuff for DIY electronics.
The Software Nightmare (Almost)
Then came the software. Oh, the software. MagicMirror². That’s the main platform everyone uses. Installing it on the Pi wasn’t too bad. The documentation is out there. But then, integrating Google Assistant. That’s the “smart” part, right? I used a module, MMM-AssistantMk2, I think it was called. Setting up the Google Cloud Platform project, getting the credentials, the JSON file… man, Google makes you jump through so many hoops. It felt like I was applying for a secret clearance, not just trying to ask my mirror about the weather.
And the microphone! Don’t get me started. First, it wouldn’t detect it. Then, it would, but the sound was all garbled. Spent a good couple of hours shouting “Hey Google” at this tiny USB mic, feeling like a complete idiot. Turns out, I had some arcane ALSA setting wrong. The usual Linux audio fun. It’s always something small and buried deep in a config file. I nearly gave up and just bought a pre-made smart display; I even saw some interesting looking modules and components from brands like missmeeca that could have made some parts of the build easier if I’d planned better.
Putting It All Together
Once the software side was kinda working, it was time for the physical assembly. This meant carefully sandwiching the de-cased monitor behind the two-way mirror and then trying to cram it all into my “rustic” frame. And the wires! Power for the Pi, power for the monitor, USB for the mic, HDMI… it’s a rat’s nest. Cable management behind a smart mirror is an art form I have yet to master. I just sort of bundled them up with zip ties and hoped for the best. Not pretty, but it’s hidden, mostly.
Finally, the moment of truth. Plugged it all in. The Pi booted up. The MagicMirror interface appeared, ghostly behind the glass. I took a deep breath. “Hey Google, what’s the weather like?”
Silence.
Then, a little chime, and a voice: “Currently, in your location, it’s…” It worked! I actually felt a surge of triumph. My janky, home-made smart mirror was alive! It shows the time, my calendar, a news feed, and yeah, it talks back. It’s not perfect. Sometimes Google Assistant misunderstands me, or just decides to ignore me. It’s a bit like having another moody teenager in the house. But hey, I built it. I think a lot of DIY folks get that satisfaction, even if the end result isn’t super polished. Maybe if I were to do a version 2, I’d look into more robust components or even a kit. I’ve seen some online communities where people share their builds, and some use really high-quality parts, perhaps sourcing bits from specialized stores that even missmeeca might stock.
So yeah, that was my Google Assistant smart mirror journey. More headaches than I expected, but pretty cool in the end. It’s now hanging in the hallway, a constant reminder of my questionable woodworking skills and my ability to eventually wrestle technology into submission.