Convex mirrors have a variety of uses today—many of which are for security purposes, as well as to help drivers on the road. These mirrors offer several distinct advantages, as well as disadvantages.
View
Convex mirrors make objects seem to appear smaller than they are in reality, which allows for a wider viewpoint in a smaller space.
Distortion
Convex mirrors reflect images in a distorted shape due to their convex shape. It can be difficult to determine the actual placement of objects.
Location
Convex mirrors can be placed indoors or outdoors in most forms of weather since they are very durable.
Maintenance
Unlike surveillance cameras, convex mirrors can be on duty 24 hours per day and don’t require any maintenance after being installed. The downside is that to be an effective security measure, employees or security officers must be watching the mirror at the time of a theft or security breach.
Misjudgment
Since versions of convex mirrors are found in many vehicles, driver’s misjudgment of speed and miscalculation of distances can be a direct result of the curvature of the mirror within the car.
References
About the Author
Steve Johnson is an avid and passionate writer with more than five years of experience. He's written for several industries, including health, dating and Internet marketing, as well as for various websites. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas.
Photo Credits
the street mirror on the cross-road image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com