It is not surprising that, until the price of liquid-crystal display and plasma screens recently became more affordable, the design of television sets changed little in the 90-odd years since they were invented.
Ten years ago, the Japanese created a box with four television screens that created an illusion of a fish tank, but that was hardly a mass-consumer product.
Philips is among a handful of electronics makers that have now decided to help consumers hide their television sets behind mirrors.
Using a specially polarised panel, the MirrorTV's screen has the same reflective qualities as a normal mirror. You could shave in front of it, brush your teeth, adjust your clothes, and you would never know any better. But hit the power switch on the remote and the 23-inch widescreen comes alive with a choice of terrestrial or cable channels for your viewing pleasure.
Philips has taken its disguise a step further by putting a gilded wooden frame on top of the TV's usual bevelled edge, making it look like a framed mirror.
This is so you can hang the TV on a wall and, when your neighbours arrive, snobbishly declare: 'I don't waste my time watching television.'
Unfortunately, the disguise is ruined by the Philips logo printed conspicuously just below the centre of the mirror panel. The device is also a fair bit thicker than a framed mirror, and hiding the power and antenna cables poses a challenge and could, potentially, spoil the effect.