Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the smartest of them all?
Unlike a normal looking glass, this one might actually answer your question. The Internet of Things has a new entrant: a smart mirror.
The mirror can bring you the news, play videos, post a tweet and download apps. Those are just a few use cases for the recently launched AI-powered device.
If you, like me, are not sold on the idea yet, here's creator Edward Chong's pitch: "Let’s say you’re trying to buy sunglasses. In the mirror, you can pull up an app on augmented reality and use the camera to project it on your face." A more mundane use would be to "check your email while brushing your teeth."
This isn't some dystopian future. It's here on Kickstarter with more than $160,000 pledged toward the project.
The mirror marked the end of stealth mode for Boston-based company Ayi Technology, which plans to unveil a smart table next. Despite backing from private investors, Chong decided to launch on Kickstarter to fund the production, build a community and gather feedback on the product.
If you're reading this and shaking your head vigorously, wondering who the target audience for this would be, Chong has an answer: people who are already sold on and own smart gadgets. Already, the Internet of Things is projected to include more than 75.4 billion installed devices worldwide by 2025.
Chong is undeterred; he has big dreams for his creation.
"We want this to be the best home assistant on the market," Chong said.
He also envisions a bright future for Ayi in the B2B space, especially in real estate and furniture retail. "Think of a real estate agent who wants to stage a home," Chong said. "You won’t need to stage homes anymore. You can project it on Ayi."
