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Samsung Electronics debuts mirror of the future

A hair designer introduces various styles available to her client through Samsung Electronics’ new Mirror Display. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

You may no longer need to flip through fashion magazines or search for images online in order to show your hair dresser the ideal hair design you want.

Samsung Electronics has commercialized a futuristic type of mirror that also serves as a customized display, and the first spot to adopt the so-called Mirror Display as part of a pilot launch is beauty salon chain Leekaja Hairbis. The product will officially go on sale in the third quarter and is seen to mostly cater to corporate customers such as fashion retailers and hair salons.

The tech giant said on Wednesday that it installed the display product at one of Leekaja’s branches inside the Lotte Department Store in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul. The Korean beauty salon brand, launched by an eponymous founder, operates not only in Korea but also in the United States, Australia and China.

The 55-inch Mirror Display, aside from its main usage as a mirror, displays the latest hairstyles and treatment information, and the content of the display can also be customized by users, according to a Samsung spokeswoman, using a USB or Internet connection. The size of the device may also vary according to customers’ needs.

“The Mirror Display has enabled us to more efficiently deliver information to customers and provide upscale services,” said Lee Woo-chan, executive director at Leekaja. He added that the company is considering installing the mirror device at branches across the globe.

“Samsung intends to take the lead in transforming people’s overall lifestyle by unveiling a range of different products,” said Kim Seok-ki, head of Samsung Electronics’ video display division. “Mirror Display is just the first step.”

An earlier generation of the Mirror Display was unveiled last October under the Smart Mirror brand at the Bean Pole clothing brand’s Lotte World store in southeastern Seoul. Bean Pole belongs to Samsung C&T, and the device was jointly developed by Samsung Electronics’ digital media and communications research arm and the fashion unit of Samsung C&T.

The mirror showed that it was able to analyze the person standing in front of it. It could identify gender and age, as well as the color and pattern of his or her outfit, and recommend clothes.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun@joongang.co.kr]