Feeling a little down? Don't worry. Ikea's new piece of furniture thinks you're amazing.
The Swedish retailer has introduced a prototype of a mirror in Britain that looks you up and down and (thanks to Kinect technology and some "complex coding") gives you a robo-compliment, which people appear to be as thrilled to receive as the real thing.
This "Motivational Mirror" is based on scientific information, commissioned by the retailer itself, which found:
• 49% of Brits receive no compliments in an average week.
• 43.6 million people in the U.K. are self-critical of their appearance.
• 33% of the nation feel they look their worst before 9 a.m. on a Monday morning.
But this mirror tries to fix all that.
Ikea also did research into which specific compliments people would like to hear. Among the top choices were "Your eyes are mesmerizing," "Have you been working out?" and "Your skin is glowing"—all of which are incorporated into this mirror's uplifting robo-repertoire.
The retailer demo-ed the mirror in its Wembley store to "raise awareness of how simple solutions in the home can make our daily routines better," according to a statement.
"We all know how that first look in the bathroom or bedroom mirror can determine whether we have a good or bad day," says Myriam Ruffo, head of bedrooms and bathrooms at Ikea U.K. and Ireland. "That's why we thought—wouldn't it be great if the mirror actually told you something positive for a change!
It is a little funny that Ikea is trying to jump into Dove territory. (And yes, the inspirational talking mirror idea has been done before—most notably by the all-female Austin band The Mrs., but also by other marketers.) Still, no real harm done, I suppose?
Just as long as they don't mass produce this thing. (Worst actual bedroom mirror ever.)