The problem with mirrors is that they take up space for no good reason. Sure, if you like looking at yourself they’re great – but what about the rest of the time? What if they could double as, say, a TV? Enter the Luxurite Glass TV.
Originally designed in 15″, 17″, 19″, and 22″ sizes – for bedrooms, boardrooms, and anywhere else you’d like a stylish mirror that turns into a TV or computer monitor – the Glass TV range is a simple concept, elegant in its execution: when the power is off, the device is a fully-working mirror – but when the power is switched on, the mirror goes transparent and shows the display screen secreted behind it.
The technology relies on what the company describes as “a special lamination” which provides an extremely reflective surface only when there is no light source behind it. Like a two-way mirror, as soon as a light source is activated on the other side the coating ceases to be reflective and the glass panel becomes – almost – completely transparent.
Although neat, a 22″ display lacks a certain wow-factor, which is why the company has just announced a new service: a customization option on its Giant series 82″ HDTV which allows you to benefit from the same mirrored finish in a large-screen format.
Using the same lamination technology as its smaller brethren, the massive 82″ beast includes all the specifications you would expect from a top-end display: a full HD 1080p panel; three HDMI inputs with HDCP support for playback of protected content; and a 1,200:1 contrast ratio – likely to be enhanced, at the cost of some brightness, by the mirrored coating on the glass panel.
If you’re looking to get your hands on one of these puppies, you’d better dig deep: as it’s a customization rather than an actual product, they’re one-offs – made to order as each well-heeled customer puts their demand in. As well as the option to add the Glass TV lamination to the display, the customization service allows you to chop and change the colour and size of the bezel in order to fit in with your decor and furniture.
All this comes at a cost, however – and it’s one that Luxurite is seemingly keeping quiet about. Although the company will gladly sell you your customized 82″ dual-purpose mirror-cum-TV, you’ll have to ask for an individual quote if you’re looking for pricing information.
