At first glance, Open Mirror by Digital Habit(s) is simply a handsome oval mirror. But within this egg-shaped object lies another world waiting to be born—music. Open Mirror connects to an iPhone or iPod so users can listen to music while getting ready for the day (or night). Thanks to a sophisticated advanced gesture interface, Open Mirror is controlled by moving one’s hands, and it works with wet hands too.

Open Mirror. Designed by Digital Habit(s).

Open Source Mirror/Docking Station Controlled by Hand Movements

Like an egg waiting to crack open, Open Mirror holds secrets: “The shape is divided by a line of light that suggests the direction of the decomposition of the figure.” Once open, the mirror revels its inner world: a docking station slides out and lights illuminate the active sensors. Using hand movements, users interact with the music player, increasing and decreasing volume, or getting forward or backward song control. Still your hands on the left side and play or pause music. The control is intuitive: “Natural gesture is a way of giving input that humans already know by their common experience.”

Open Mirror is open in another way as well. Thanks to the philosophy of Digital Habit(s), the design is open source, which means that anyone can download the instructions to create it. And should any designer or user improve the design, that person is requested to make those changes available to all other users. The ovate shape of Open Mirror actually reflects its creative possibilities: the design is pregnant with potential.

Via Design Milk.

About the Designer: Digital Habit(s) is an Italian design company that allows designers to share their ideas and techniques. Users can download instructions for free: these include “the executable files needed to build the physical components, files for building circuits, software for controlling interfaces and sensors, and a list of commercial components to buy.” Digital Habits products can be changed or developed by any user, as long as the changes are released for free.