During the second year of my participation in the High School Involvement Partnership with Northrop Grumman, I designed and built a smart mirror intended for use in the health care industry. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to find ways to support those affected by the virus with my project. Having an interactive device that patients could use to analyze biometric data reduces face-to-face contact that healthcare professionals need to have with patients. This reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19, which was especially important during the pandemic. With nursing homes and hospitals in mind, I developed a suite of sensors that monitors blood oxygen level, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. The mirror connects to Amazon Alexa for ease of use and technology integration.
The smart mirror is powered by a Raspberry Pi 3B and an Amazon Alexa Echo. Its custom wooden frame securely houses a monitor display panel and a one-way glass pane, with openings at the top for a temperature sensor and camera to face the user. This project strengthened my programming abilities and highlighted my expertise in electronics. Leveraging Amazon's Alexa API, I developed custom modules compatible with the Alexa App, enabling tailored voice commands and advanced control features. The Raspberry Pi 3B uses WiFi to communicate seamlessly with Alexa and other healthcare devices, ensuring reliable transmission of biometric data. In addition to a custom temperature-sensing module, I also developed a motion-sensing program to turn off the display when it is idle.
