Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits

The always-imaginative gurus at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft never cease to amaze, and at this year's IFA, they're delivering once more. The so-called "virtual mirror" gives to-be garb buyers an accurate look at what different outfits look like on their person without requiring them to try a single thing on. Granted, shopaholics are apt to detest this thing, but anyone with better things to do than try on four sweaters to see which one makes them look fat should be completely in love. The concept here is far from new, as we've seen both virtual makeover machines and fitting room enhancers before. Still, Fraunhofer's dream of getting you suited up and out of the store in mere minutes is one we'd love to see come true. Just don't ditch the traditional stalls too soon -- we wouldn't want any kind of worldwide uprising.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of Flickr]

[Jared @ Aug 27th 2008 9:48AM]

I will personally buy and return clothes instead of trying them on at a store, I hate it! This sounds great to me.

[Apreche @ Aug 27th 2008 10:06AM]

Here's the problem. If I was the store making this machine, I would set it up to digitally enhance the image. Every article of clothing would look amazing on every person. That would be the way to sell the most stuff.

[fraz @ Aug 27th 2008 11:54AM]

And of course that would be completely different to the way they alter the lighting in the changing area to make shadows and angles look less obvious in order to make clothes look better than they may be at present ....

[Eric @ Aug 27th 2008 10:37AM]

I think this will help to stop the spreading of lice and things too, especially in the ladies underwear department :-)

[StrangeBum @ Aug 27th 2008 10:44AM]

I would either suggest using some sort of cream/ointment for that problem...or I would consider not visiting the ladies underwear department any longer :P

[phanbouy @ Aug 27th 2008 12:49PM]

you're only supposed to be _smelling_ the underwear eric, not wearing it!

[Don Corleone @ Aug 27th 2008 10:48AM]

They're skinny mirrors! They make you look thin, but you're really fat.

[absinthe party @ Aug 27th 2008 11:34AM]

I'm not chubby; it's protective karate fat!

[Dylan @ Aug 27th 2008 4:00PM]

Seinfeld anyone? :)

[brian @ Aug 27th 2008 10:53AM]

Yeah, like this helps determine if something fits, since all the clothing makers out there are just oh so accurate and standardized in sizing.

Epic fail in an overpriced mirror no retail shop will ever spring for.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 27th 2008 10:57AM]

She's got a nice rack on her.

[phanbouy @ Aug 27th 2008 11:58AM]

gooman with the latest conversation stopper

[Kizorblade @ Aug 27th 2008 10:59AM]

"Do those clothes make me look fat?"
"I'll see"
"Kay"
"Well, yes they do. Then again, all the other clothes that don't are just hiding it"

[XenoX101 @ Aug 27th 2008 11:32AM]

This couldn't work, clothing flows so differently (particularly in womens clothing with all the gowns and dresses) on different bodies that to get an accurate representation you would have to factor in the falling points on the person's body. You would also have to realise the thickness of the material, whether it is padded or not, how the seams are stitched as to completely understand how it will look both standing and through basic movements.

The worst part about all this? How many people do you already see who wear clothes a size too small or big? These people can't figure out their size when seeing the clothing in the flesh, how difficult will it be for them (no offense of course, just trying to be realistic) to pick something nice that fits properly on these digital monitors?

[xtop @ Aug 27th 2008 1:39PM]

This machine is amazing, all you have to do is being naked, and it will do the measurement for you. It even puts your image to database for comparsion.

[Mustaine @ Aug 27th 2008 3:11PM]

So what you're saying is it will take naked pics of you and upload it to a server? Wouldn't be long before it was hacked and uploaded somewhere.

[Raphael @ Aug 27th 2008 1:58PM]

What a stupid idea! Almost as useless as some of my classmate's invention for a business idea: a system that stores customer's preferences for clothing stores. Maybe this will be useful in other fields but please not in fashion! I want my real self.

[maxz @ Aug 27th 2008 4:50PM]

mirrorS arE morE fuN thaN televisioN.

[raider @ Aug 27th 2008 9:27PM]

More consumer profiling .. but, this is serious genius really.
So you go into 'insert store here' stand in front of the mirror, get all triangulated etc., then, for future catalogue delivery you log into the store, and try on everything in the store .. brilliant, shop at home, you know it will fit, you know how it will look, and they know you will like it, if this saves me getting dragged all around malls looking for a freaking t-shirt, I'll send them my wife's profile !

[nicko.dvz @ Aug 27th 2008 10:01PM]

I thought I should point this out.
Microsoft/HP have already made this. For that Disney Innoventions Dream Home thingy. Not saying that they were absolute first, but it's been there for longer than this.