Help me choose my hardware

CheapDad

Hi everyone! I’m embarking on my first Magic Mirror project and I’d like some help choosing my hardware. I’m building the mirror for my college-aged daughter. It will display the usual MM stuff and Canvas notifications. I also plan to integrate Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa.

I’m building this around an old Dell 1908FP 19" monitor that I have. Including the bezel, the monitor is 16" x 13". I plan to use a 16x20" frame and build the box to hold the monitor behind that.

I’d like the monitor to sense someone’s presence when they approach it and wake up. After a predetermined time, it should go back to sleep.

I’ve seen lots of MM project lists, but none seem to hit all the points I’m trying to accomplish. Could someone help me:

Identify the best camera/sensor to enable the wake up feature.
It’s not clear whether I have speakers built into the monitor. What is the best way to integrate sound?
I figure I also need a microphone for the Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa. Is a simple USB microphone the way to go or is there a better solution?
It seems that the Raspberry Pi 4 is the way to go, even if I don’t need all of the computing power it can supply to do what I want to do. Is that correct?

I’m sure there are other questions but these are the ones that leap immediately to mind as I plan my purchase list.

Thank s in advance,
CheapDad

woelfle2004

@cheapdad
I recently built up my MagicMirror and did some tests.

I am using a Webcam’s microphone (I thought maybe I want to use the camera as well for face recognition). Cheap Webcams don’t work. A using webcam is from “Jelly Comb” and the other is the “PS3 Eye”. The PS3 Eye has an array of microphones therefore working great.
I am using an USB Audio adapter and the “Waveshare” speaker. But I ran into problems using a voice command from MMM-GoogleAssistant. Maybe the 3.5mm plug works better.
see point 1
The Rasberry 4 provide you with everything you need. I recommend the 4 GB version. The 8 GB version is not necessary…

CheapDad

@woelfle2004

Thank you for the reply. As a financial middle ground between two way glass and acrylic, I’m planning on getting a piece of glass and using the two way film over top. Does anyone have thoughts on that?

sdetweil

@cheapdad haven’t seen anyone happy with film

CheapDad

Wow! That’s good to know. With a 16x20 project, what do you recommend?

sdetweil

@cheapdad I don’t have any advice. I bought film for my big tv but stopped based on feedback here.

BKeyport

@cheapdad As for speakers, built in speakers are throw away toys from the 80s. Get something else… I’d likely put speakers out of the way of the monitor, shielded magnets so to protect other equipment, but I could roll my own solution…

CheapDad

Perhaps I can put speaker components at the bottom of the frame with the monitor at the top.

Related to the monitor, it only has DVI and VGA connections. I’m wondering if I should use a Pi 3 for the full sized HDMI connection and use an adapter, or does a mini HDMI to dvi or vga adapter exist?

bert269

Hi.
I also have a Dell(not sure the model) with DVI, VGA and DP outputs. Since I use the rPi 4 I got a converter cable from mini HDMI to DVI cheaper than HDMI to DP. So I went that route and it works fine.
I would be really interested to learn how you manage to setup Google Assistant, once you reach that point, as I am really a hard time to do it. The problem that I found is that Google keep changing their device registration websites and I cannot find any updated guides to step one through this -really annoying. In regards to the microphone, I am using a USB model from Amazon which works just fine: https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/pop?ref=ppx_yo2_mob_b_pop__np_5_pp&orderId=111-3131203-6936200&lineItemId=lpkisvksqpotsny&shipmentId=DkND6yTsW&packageId=1&asin=B0779PKLV9
I have not decided if I want to go camera yet or not. Also, I went with the mirror film and are pretty happy with it. It was my first attempt and although it did not come out 100% smooth, I am still very happy with the result.
I am very curious to see how you manage to get Google Assistant installed and to learn from you, please. Thanks.

CheapDad

@bert269 said in Help me choose my hardware:

Hi.
I also have a Dell(not sure the model) with DVI, VGA and DP outputs. Since I use the rPi 4 I got a converter cable from mini HDMI to DVI cheaper than HDMI to DP. So I went that route and it works fine.
I would be really interested to learn how you manage to setup Google Assistant, once you reach that point, as I am really a hard time to do it. The problem that I found is that Google keep changing their device registration websites and I cannot find any updated guides to step one through this -really annoying. In regards to the microphone, I am using a USB model from Amazon which works just fine: https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/pop?ref=ppx_yo2_mob_b_pop__np_5_pp&orderId=111-3131203-6936200&lineItemId=lpkisvksqpotsny&shipmentId=DkND6yTsW&packageId=1&asin=B0779PKLV9
I have not decided if I want to go camera yet or not. Also, I went with the mirror film and are pretty happy with it. It was my first attempt and although it did not come out 100% smooth, I am still very happy with the result.
I am very curious to see how you manage to get Google Assistant installed and to learn from you, please. Thanks.

Thanks @bert269 !