Delayed Mirror: How It Works

What “delay” means

“Delay” is simply the gap between the moment something happens and the moment you see it on screen. With a delayed mirror, you’re always watching the recent past.

Real-time mirrors

A real-time mirror can be useful for checking a static position. But when you’re moving, the moment you notice something, it’s already over. You either try to correct mid-action (often too late), or you stop and restart.

Recording + replay

Recording yourself and watching it back can be very clear, but it interrupts the flow. You finish a phrase or a set, then switch into “playback mode”, find the moment, watch it, and reset. In practice, that often means walking back to the device to stop the recording, watching the clip, and then returning to your spot. If you had to pick the phone up to review, you may also need to place it back and re-check framing. For many people, that context switch is the main friction.

A delayed mirror

With a delay, you can keep going while still seeing what just happened. You’re not trying to catch the moment in the mirror as it happens, and you’re not breaking rhythm to hunt through a recording. You simply see the last few seconds arrive on screen.

In practice, the “right” delay depends on what you’re doing. A short delay can be enough for quick checks; a longer delay can give you room to finish a phrase or complete a set before the review arrives. Refla makes delay adjustable so you can experiment and find what fits.

Live, delayed, and review modes (what you can control)

Refla is designed around self-review. You can watch live, watch with delay, and use simple review controls when you want to look at a moment more than once.

Live view

With zero delay, Refla behaves like a normal mirror. This is useful when you want immediate orientation, framing, or a quick “is everything set up correctly?” check.

Delayed view

With a non-zero delay, you’re watching yourself a few seconds behind. Many people find this easier for reviewing movement because you can complete an action first, then observe it right after—still in the same session, still in the same space, still in context.

Review controls: pause, scrub, rewatch, back to live

Refla also supports short “review” interactions. You can pause, scrub through the recent buffer, rewatch the same moment a few times, and then return to live. This is meant for quick loops—like re-checking one part of a phrase or one repetition—without turning the session into a full recording workflow.

Refla can also be controlled with hand gestures, so you can start a quick review (pause, scrub, rewatch, then go back to live) without walking over to your device mid-session.

Refla does not try to coach you while you move. The point is to make reviewing your own motion simpler and less disruptive.

Why delayed self-review works

A simple feedback loop

The basic loop is: do something, see it a moment later, adjust the next attempt. Delay makes that loop faster because you don’t have to stop to capture and replay a clip.

Staying present

Watching yourself immediately after an action often feels more connected than watching a separate recording later. You’re still “in the session”, which can make it easier to remember how the movement felt and connect that feeling to what you’re seeing.

Fewer interruptions

For activities with rhythm—dance phrases, timed drills, sets—interruptions can be the biggest cost. A delayed mirror keeps review close to the action while avoiding repeated stop/start cycles.

What Refla does (and doesn’t do)

What it does

• Shows a camera preview with an adjustable delay for self-review.
• Lets you pause and review recent moments (scrub, rewatch, then return to live).
• Keeps the experience focused on what you can observe yourself.

What it doesn’t do

• It doesn’t automatically analyze your body, posture, or technique.
• It doesn’t score, judge, or coach you in real time.
• It isn’t a “social video” tool; it’s designed for private review.

Practical considerations

Refla is intentionally simple, and most setup issues come down to a few variables. If something feels “off”, try changing one thing at a time and see what improves.

Camera placement

Place the camera far enough back to include the movement you care about. For full-body motion, a slightly higher angle often captures more reliably than a low, close angle. A stable mount (or a steady surface) also helps when you’re moving fast.

Field of view

Different cameras and lenses capture different amounts of the room. If you feel “cropped” or you’re constantly stepping out of frame, try a wider camera or increase distance.

Lighting

More light usually means a cleaner image and less blur. If the preview looks noisy or smeared, try facing a brighter source or adding even light from the front.

Performance tips

For the smoothest preview and most consistent delay:

• Use the latest version of your browser (updates often include camera and performance fixes).
• Google Chrome is usually the most reliable choice for Refla.
• Use bright, even light. In low light, many cameras silently lower frame rate, which can make the preview feel choppy.

Who it’s for

• Dance practice — review phrases and timing without stopping.
• Fitness & strength training — review after a set, not during it.
• Outfit & appearance checks — see how clothing looks while moving.