Technology

Put down your phone: How selfies and videos are ruining gym etiquette and invading privacy

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2024

Put down your phone: How selfies and videos are ruining gym etiquette and invading privacy

Taking selfies and videos is now as common as sending emails or text messages. While taking selfies and videos in the comfort of your own home or in your own chosen company is a given, what about public spaces with strangers?

That’s a new world to navigate, as you now don’t only have to worry about “Big Brother” spying on you but also the stranger lifting weights or running on the treadmill next to you.

While a proud workout photo or video to post on social media or send to your friends or family to keep you motivated on your fitness journey is one thing, people are starting to film videos of themselves in group workout classes and all aspects of the gym experience.

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Woman taking a selfie at the gym. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Gyms tackle privacy in the age of social media

While gym rats may be comfortable with the ins and outs of gym culture and have a routine down pat, new members and private individuals alike who are already intimidated by stepping foot into the gym face the risk of being in some random person’s viral social media photo or video without their consent.

Though some influencers make a conscious effort to position their phones in an isolated way to photograph or tape only themselves or get permission from anyone else in the photo or video before posting, others capture people without their consent.

While hospitals and government buildings have started to post stronger “no cellphone” or “cellphone recording” policies, gyms, and workout studios are also starting to enact new policies to address the impact of selfies and videos.

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Man and woman doing yoga at yoga studio. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Top reasons why you should put the phone down at the gym

While a good workout selfie or video can feel like a personal post-workout reward, below are the top seven reasons why putting your phone down may be an even better reward:

1. Better focus: Unless you’re filming yourself working out to watch later to see how your form has changed over time, not having to worry about what angle to film or who is or isn’t in the shot helps you be more present during the workout. Not worrying about how you’re being filmed also likely helps you maintain better form.

2. Better results: Proper form and being engaged in your workout leads to better results.

3. Safer workout: Focusing helps you with better form for better results and keeps you safer. Anyone who’s done a squat incorrectly can attest to how important form is to getting results, not injuries. That split-second distraction from your phone can lead to chronic or acute pain later. It also creates a safer environment for others by limiting accidents.

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Women giving each other a high-five during workout.

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4. Better connection: It’s easy to scroll when there is a lag time between when you enter and start your workout class. But when you put the phone down before class, those few minutes can help you connect with yourself and those around you. You may not be paying attention to your energy levels if you’re busy focusing on taking a selfie or video before class or a cardio session. You could easily overdo it, which can lead you to “throw in the towel” too soon or not soon enough. You can miss connecting with the person next to you or the instructor giving key guidance.

5. Better experience: Most people don’t head to the gym to be reminded about all of life’s challenges, so why not shut off your phone and put those challenges at bay for the duration of your workout? The neighbor on the treadmill next to you likely doesn’t want to hear you complaining about work or your spouse. And to be honest, you probably don’t want to hear about their day, either.

Man checking his phone during a workout at the gym. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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6. Faster workout: Who hasn’t looked on their phone to check the time, only to be sucked into a time warp of notifications and other distractions? If you put down the phone, you’re likely to move through the different exercises faster. While resting intentionally between sets can be helpful for your body, taking selfies and recording videos may derail the momentum of your workout.

7. Protect your privacy and those around you: If you post “live” footage, photos or videos of you working out at the gym or a workout studio, you can leave yourself open to being targeted by unsavory individuals. If you must post, post after you leave the gym and mix up when you post so no one knows exactly where and when you work out. If you don’t care about others knowing your schedule, the person next to you might.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

People have a lot of strong feelings about phones in workout spaces. While most aren’t trying to harass or intimidate those around them with what feels like an innocent workout selfie or video, some people are mocking other gym goers on social media — a terrible form of bullying that needs to be stopped. While some are looking for an escape from the perpetual feeling of being observed and potentially recorded, some gym goers say having a camera recording their workouts makes them feel safer when the gym is empty, or they’re working out alone.

You should absolutely be proud of keeping fit in your workout spaces. While documenting your progress can be a healthy part of it, it is important to be mindful of when, where, and with whom you are doing it. Who knows? Maybe not documenting every workout can create a better workout experience for yourself.

Do people filming their workouts bother you? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Samsung’s Digital Home Key lets you use your phone as your key

Published

2 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Samsung’s Digital Home Key lets you use your phone as your key

Just days after showing off the Galaxy S26, Samsung is finally rolling out the ability for users to unlock their home with a tap of their phone or by simply approaching their door. The new feature, called Digital Home Key, will live inside Samsung Wallet and is powered by the Aliro smart home standard.

Samsung first teased its Digital Home Key feature in 2024 and said the feature would be available in 2025. That didn’t pan out, as the CSA’s Aliro standard — which will let users unlock smart locks with any phone — only arrived in February of this year. The new standard uses near-field communication (NFC) for its tap-to-unlock technology. It also supports ultra-wideband (UWB), giving users the ability to unlock their door as they approach and without pulling out their phone.

To add a Digital Home Key to your wallet, you’ll need to set up a compatible smart lock through SmartThings using Matter. Only some Galaxy smartphones support both NFC and UWB, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and up, as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra and up. You can view the full list of compatible devices on Samsung’s website.

Technology

China’s ultrasound brain tech race heats up

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

China’s ultrasound brain tech race heats up

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When you hear “brain-computer interface,” you probably picture surgery, wires and a chip in your head. Now picture something quieter. No implant. No incision. Just sound waves directed at the brain.

That is the approach behind a new wave of ultrasound brain-computer interface companies in China. One of the newest is Gestala, founded in Chengdu with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The company says it is developing technology that can stimulate and eventually study brain activity using focused ultrasound.

Yes, the same basic technology is used in medical imaging. But this time, it targets neural circuits.

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Brain imaging highlights the regions researchers study as companies explore noninvasive ultrasound brain-computer interface technology. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What is an ultrasound brain computer interface?

Most brain-computer interface systems rely on electrodes that detect electrical signals from neurons. Neuralink is the most visible example. It places tiny threads inside the brain to record activity. Ultrasound works differently.

Instead of measuring electrical signals directly, it uses high-frequency sound waves. Depending on intensity and focus, those waves can:

Create images of internal tissue
Destroy abnormal tissue such as tumors
Modulate neural activity without open surgery.

Focused ultrasound treatments are already approved for Parkinson’s disease, uterine fibroids and certain tumors. That clinical history gives companies like Gestala a foundation to build on. However, studying or interpreting brain signals with ultrasound is far more complex than delivering targeted stimulation.

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Unlike implant-based systems such as Neuralink, ultrasound brain computer interface research focuses on stimulating the brain without surgery. (Neuralink)

How Gestala plans to treat chronic pain with focused ultrasound

Gestala’s first product is focused on chronic pain. The company plans to target the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region linked to the emotional experience of pain. Early pilot studies suggest that stimulating this area can reduce pain intensity for up to a week in some patients. The first-generation device will be a stationary system used in clinics. Patients would visit a hospital for treatment sessions. Later, the company plans to develop a wearable helmet designed for supervised use at home. Over time, Gestala says it wants to expand into depression, other mental health conditions, stroke rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s disease and sleep disorders. That is an ambitious roadmap. Each condition involves different brain networks and clinical hurdles.

Can ultrasound read brain activity without implants?

Like other brain tech startups, Gestala is also exploring whether ultrasound could help interpret brain activity. The long-term concept is straightforward in theory. A device could detect patterns linked to chronic pain or depression, then deliver stimulation to specific regions in response.

Unlike traditional brain implants, which capture electrical signals from limited areas, an ultrasound-based system may have the potential to access broader regions of the brain. That possibility is one reason researchers are paying attention. Still, translating that concept into reliable data is a major engineering challenge.

The global race to build noninvasive brain interfaces

China is not alone in exploring ultrasound brain-computer interface systems. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced a significant investment in Merge Labs, a startup cofounded by Sam Altman along with researchers linked to Forest Neurotech.

Public materials from Merge Labs mention restoring lost abilities, supporting healthier brain states and deepening human connection with advanced AI. That language signals long-term ambitions. Yet experts caution that real-world applications are still years away.

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Researchers use MRI guidance to precisely target the anterior cingulate cortex with focused ultrasound during chronic pain studies. (Gestala)

The technical limits of ultrasound brain interfaces

Ultrasound faces technical limits. First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves. That makes it harder to obtain precise signals. In research settings, detailed readouts of neural activity have required special implants that allow ultrasound to pass more clearly than bone.

Second, ultrasound measures changes in blood flow. Blood flow shifts more slowly than electrical firing in neurons. That delay may limit applications that require fast, detailed signal decoding, such as real-time speech translation. In short, stimulation is one challenge. Accurate readout is another level entirely.

What this means to you

Right now, this technology is experimental. You are not about to buy a brain helmet at your local electronics store. Still, the direction matters. If noninvasive ultrasound devices can reduce chronic pain or support mental health treatment, more patients may consider therapy without facing brain surgery.

At the same time, devices that analyze brain states introduce new privacy questions. Brain-related data is deeply personal. Regulators, hospitals and companies will need clear rules about how that data is stored, shared and protected. Finally, the link between AI companies and brain interface startups shows how closely digital intelligence and neuroscience are becoming intertwined. That connection could reshape medicine, wellness, and even how we interact with technology.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Brain-computer interfaces used to feel far off and experimental. Now they are a serious focus of global research and investment. China’s push to develop an ultrasound-based brain-computer interface adds momentum to a field already shaped by companies like Neuralink and new ventures backed by OpenAI. Progress is steady but measured. The potential is significant. The technical hurdles are real. What happens next will depend on whether researchers can turn promising lab results into safe, reliable treatments people can actually use.

If sound waves could one day interpret your mental state, who should decide how that information is used? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Technology

This Windows gaming handheld has a screen that folds in half

Published

14 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

This Windows gaming handheld has a screen that folds in half

Lenovo put a foldable display on a gaming handheld. The Legion Go Fold Concept is a Windows-based handheld with a flexible POLED display, detachable Joy-Con-like controllers, and a folio case to turn the whole thing into a mini laptop.

You can use it as a standard Steam Deck-esque handheld with the display folded down to 7.7 inches and controllers attached at its sides, or you can unfold it for a bigger experience. When unfolded, the controllers can be repositioned to all four sides, allowing you to play with the screen in vertical or horizontal orientations.

In vertical splitscreen mode, you can put your game on one half of the screen and a second window (like your chat or game guide) on the other half. Horizontal fullscreen mode gives your game the full 11.6 inches of real estate in a 16:10 aspect ratio. To go into laptop mode, you remove the controllers and mount the handheld into a folio case with a stand, built-in keyboard, and trackpad. The controllers can be put into a separate grip mount to unify them as one gamepad.

There are a lot of ways you can use this folding handheld, including turning one of its controllers into a vertical mouse like on other Legion Go handhelds, but there’s one thing it doesn’t do: fold down to close and protect its screen. The Go Fold only folds outwards, so don’t expect a Nintendo DS or GameBoy Advance-like clamshell that closes for portability. Instead, it’s all about getting bigger than your average gaming handheld and offering more. (Though we’ve tried bigger before.)

The Legion Go Fold has some formidable specs: an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 48Whr battery. The plastic-covered OLED has a resolution of 2435 x 1712 and 165Hz refresh rate. And there’s even a second, circular toushscreen on the right controller, under the face buttons. It doubles as a touchpad and can be a support display, allowing you to swipe between extracted UI elements from a game (which I wouldn’t expect to be widely supported), a clock, system monitoring, or an animated GIF (just for fun).

During my brief in-person demo I didn’t get to play any graphically-intense games — just Balatro, which can practically play on a potato. The screen looked plenty sharp, but like any foldable there’s a crease down the middle; it’s very visible, but you learn to look past it and ignore it after just a bit. The build and feel of the whole thing felt a little fragile, and detaching and reattaching the controllers was definitely janky. Build quality will hopefully be improved if this device ever actually makes it to market.

The laptop mode was a pleasant surprise for me though. I did not expect a gaming handheld to double as a conventional computer you could get work done on. The Legion Go Fold’s case took quite a bit of fumbling before I set it up correctly, but it shouldn’t take too long to get used to if you actually lived with it.

Then again, I don’t know if anyone is going to be able to live with this thing — ever. I’d love for the Legion Go Fold to go from concept to real product like other out-there Lenovo ideas, but I shudder to think what it might cost. The Legion Go 2 is already priced well over $1,000. And with the ongoing RAMageddon crisis we’re living through, there’s no telling how much more expensive an actual Legion Go Fold would be if it came out in a year or more.

But even if it’s not the kind of foldable I expected, and even though it may never come out, it’s certainly cool. Now somebody please make a folding PC handheld that goes from kinda-big to really small. I think that’d be the one for me.

Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge