I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask, but it relates to personal safety and workplace surveillance.
Out of curiosity, I did the fingernail test on the bathroom vanity mirror at work, and my fingertip touched its reflection. Typically, a regular mirror should have a gap between the fingertip and its reflection. If I can touch my reflection, does it mean the mirror might be two-way?
I have a couple of questions:
Can a standard mirror ever fail this test?
How can I confirm if the mirror is indeed a two-way mirror?
Notes:
A) I tried turning off the light and shining my phone’s light at the mirror. The light wasn’t very bright, but it seemed to reflect back somewhat. Unfortunately, I don’t have a flashlight handy.
B) The bathroom mirror has a thick, circular frame that protrudes about three inches, similar to this one.
Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m feeling quite concerned about the possibility of being watched or recorded.
Most standard mirrors consist of a thin sheet of glass with a very thin layer of aluminum or silver on the back. This means the reflection primarily comes from the backside, but there is also a reflection from the front surface of the glass, similar to touching a window.
There are “front surface” or “first surface” mirrors used in scientific instruments like telescopes, and in two-way mirrors. Two-way mirrors are essentially first-surface mirrors with extremely thin layers of silver. They allow about 90% of light to reflect, while 10% can pass through. To test if it’s a two-way mirror, you can cup your hands around your eyes to create darkness and press them against the mirror. This blocks ambient light from bouncing off the mirror’s surface and allows light from the room behind the mirror to pass through, making it visible.
In my experience, identifying two-way mirrors is quite straightforward. They often appear different from regular mirrors. For instance, in places like Dollar Stores, small rooms with mirrors instead of windows are typically two-way mirrors. These mirrors often have a slight waviness or a hint of yellowish tint that distinguishes them from regular mirrors.