New York Times develops a Kinect-powered computerised mirror

THE NEW YORK TIMES is developing a Kinect-powered computerised mirror that can deliver social networking and other useful features while sprucing yourself up in the bathroom.

The device works by using a Mirror TV, believed to be developed by Philips, which has a dual function as a display and a mirror. This is then linked to a Kinect sensor and a microphone, allowing the device to use both motion sensing and voice recognition, according to Digital Trends.

You might be wondering why a news outlet like the New York Times is working on such a project, but the answer becomes clear when you think of all the news headlines that will be streamed to the mirror, keeping us well informed as well as beautiful.

The device will also show Facebook and Twitter updates, an important part of anyone's bathroom routine, in addition to an appointment calendar and email facility. You can also check the weather, which might or might not be useful, since you'll likely never leave your bathroom again anyway.

Some of the more practical uses include a scanner that allows people to scan products they are using to find out more details, such as the correct dosage for certain medications. Of course, trusting the internet for this information might not be that reliable, so the usefulness of this will depend on where the New York Times gets the product details.

You can even order products straight from the mirror and use the Kinect's abilities to virtually try on clothes, which could be relatively handy.

Initially Microsoft was reluctant to share the Kinect technology outside its Xbox 360 gaming console, but the powerful device and software were hacked for use with regular computers, which Microsoft eventually supported once it realised it was not good publicity to fight the homebrew community.

The mirror is still in a protype stage, but if this is anything to go by, it seems that we'll be seeing the Kinect used in many other devices in the future. µ