Mirror Designed to Help Cancer Patients by Only Reflecting if you’re Smiling

Designed to promote positivity in cancer victims and their families

Cancer is awful. A positive approach, however, can help the victim and the family in the fight. That is, at least the approach taken by industrial designer Berk Ilhan who has designed a mirror with the specific purpose of attempting to improve the quality of life for cancer sufferers.

Speaking to CNN Berk Ilhan has said that he spent several years within cancer wards talking with patients and families. He wanted to create a product which could potentially help improve the outlook and to promote positivity – “I learned morale and social support are two very important factors that can positively change a patient’s experience.”

In addition to this, he also understood that laughter is a key part of recovery. It is incidentally proven to help reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

We have used all manner of high-tech equipment to battle cancer including light beams. There is something nice to hear that in this idea, it’s simply smiling.

How does the mirror work?

The mirror is basically a tablet device with a very high-quality camera fitted. There is, however, a clever piece of artificial intelligence which endeavors to detect if you are smiling or not.

Once fitted the mirror takes a recording of the ‘ambient’ reflection. When the cancer sufferer or the family approach the mirror the facial recognition will check to see if they are smiling or not. If they are not, it will not show a reflection.

Therefore, quite simply, to make it work you have to smile.

Yeah, this technology isn’t as impressive as AI cancer cell screening, but I love the concept.

Unfortunately, the ‘Smile Mirror’ is not cheap and if only currently produced in limited quantities. An upcoming planned Kickstarter campaign, however, hopes to bring the product to below $500.

I love this idea, I love the concept and I genuinely want this to succeed. I wish Berk Ilhan every success in this endeavor.