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The slick, high-tech home gym your life may be missing (but that comes at a price)

Working out at home has its perks — you can crank up your favorite playlist, skip the equipment lines and train on your own schedule. But if you don’t have the space for dumbbells, barbells, weight plates or a squat rack, making meaningful gains at home becomes a challenge — especially as you get stronger. […]

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Working out at home has its perks — you can crank up your favorite playlist, skip the equipment lines and train on your own schedule. But if you don’t have the space for dumbbells, barbells, weight plates or a squat rack, making meaningful gains at home becomes a challenge — especially as you get stronger. That’s where the Echelon Strength Home comes in. This sleek, all-in-one system is designed to provide a full gym experience at home — and it absolutely delivers.

As a personal trainer and product reviewer, I’ve tested my fair share of fitness equipment, but nothing quite like the Echelon Strength Home. At $3,000 it’s a sizable investment, but one that comes loaded with features you don’t typically get even with professional resistance machines, including eccentric and isokinetic resistance modes and a large HD touchscreen. The digital cable system is oh-so-smooth and eliminates the hassle of weight plates or stacks with finicky pins. Granted, the Strength Home does have some limitations, but for an all-in-one home gym, it’s a worthwhile investment for beginner to intermediate lifters who are short on space and ready to level up from dumbbells and resistance bands.

Grab a friend for assembly, it’s easy but heavy

It’s 290 pounds, so you’ll need a strong friend, or possibly two, to help you move the machine to your workout space. Two wheels on the base make moving the unit around much easier, but if you have any tight spaces or stairs in your path, then be prepared for a challenge — remember, always lift with your legs. Echelon also offers white glove delivery for an additional $300 if you’d rather skip the hassle.

Once you’ve got the Echelon Strength Home in place, however, the assembly process is straightforward — it took me and my partner about 45 minutes using the included hardware kit. One slight inconvenience was the lack of a physical manual. Instead, there’s a QR code to scan that takes you to a PDF containing the assembly instructions, which were easy to follow. A hydraulic folding mechanism lowers the platform to the floor with the help of a kickplate. I was nervous the first time I did this, given the mirror surface, but the glass is well-protected by rubber bumpers, and the dual locking mechanisms keep everything secure and stable during use.

It’s sleek, space-efficient and functional

The Echelon Strength Home is compact whether folded or at the ready. The integrated mirror is a nice added feature. (Rachel MacPherson)

The Echelon Strength Home is compact whether folded or at the ready. The integrated mirror is a nice added feature. (Rachel MacPherson)

Once it was fully assembled, I was impressed by just how well designed this piece of equipment is — fitting easily into nearly any size home gym. When the platform is folded, the Echelon Strength Home has a footprint of just 5.5 square feet. A unique feature of the gym is that it folds into a full-length mirror, making it functional rather than just a hunk of metal sitting in the corner of the room. Hooks behind the touchscreen further aid in the aesthetic by keeping the accessories neatly tucked away when not in use.

The platform itself is roomy enough for almost any movement you can think of and can accommodate a shorter exercise bench. Unfortunately, my bench was too long, so certain moves, like a bench press or seated row, were off the table. That said, there aren’t many exercises you can’t do with the Echelon Strength Home, at least in some variation. Cable heights can adjust independently at multiple levels, and the platform cleverly features a pair of pop-out flywheels for added versatility.

With the cables set to the lowest position, you can pull them out and fit them around flywheels on the platform. This changes the angles to accommodate a greater range of movements, such as bent-over rows, shoulder presses and squats. It’s a great feature that enhances the versatility of this machine without taking up any extra real estate in your home.

Echelon Strength Home: Its key features

A responsive 24-inch HD touchscreen is your home base for training, whether you use the built-in classes, design your own session or choose to freestyle your way through a workout.

Adjusting the resistance on the touchscreen is easy and can be done in increments of plus or minus 1, 5 or 10 pounds. One of the most useful features is a real-time chart that plots your lifting power and time per rep, which helps ensure a steady tempo when lifting. I made it into a game by seeing if I could nail each rep in exactly the same amount of time. The cables glide smoothly thanks to rope design technology that minimizes friction while enhancing durability and kink resistance. Made from a tough nylon-polymer matrix, the cables feel solid and perform far better than the traditional cable system in my home gym.

Two photos show Echelon Strength Home accessories displayed flat and hanging from the machine.

The Echelon Strength Home comes with a variety of attachments that are easily stored on the machine. (Rachel MacPherson)

The included ankle strap and rope grips are similar to what you’d find in any gym, but the handgrips and barbell have extra tech built in. Each handgrip has a button on one end that pauses your workout, while the barbell includes multiple controls — pause, start and plus/minus buttons for adjusting resistance. However, resistance changes from the barbell are limited to 1-pound increments, which can make larger adjustments feel a bit tedious.

A close-up of buttons that let you make adjustments.

The grips provide buttons to increase or decrease the resistance as you exercise. (Rachel MacPherson)

Echelon Strength Home: Easy to customize your workouts

Ready to sweat? Luckily, getting started with the Echelon Strength Home was simple and intuitive. After setting up my account and logging in, I was presented with a menu of predesigned workout categories organized by body part. Selecting one opened a list of workouts led by onscreen instructors. There was a solid variety for each muscle group, with many marked as “beginner” or “intermediate.” However, experienced lifters may find the selection of “advanced” workouts limited. The attachments you’ll need for each workout are also listed. This is the key to the compact versatility of the Strength Home, as simply switching out an attachment allows for a different set of movements. For example, a workout may have you start with the handles for bicep curls and triceps kickbacks and then have you swap in the rope for face pulls and overhead triceps extensions.

For my inaugural training session, I opted for an instructor-led abdominal workout. I was immediately impressed by the clear audio and ease of following the onscreen regimen. The Echelon Fit app, which has on-demand and live class programming, wasn’t accessible to me on the machine, but I was told by a customer service representative that new classes and an AI-led workout programming feature are coming soon.

Two photos show the machine's 24-inch HD touchscreen displaying a list of classes and custom workouts.

The large touchscreen makes it easy to choose instructor-led programs. (Rachel MacPherson)

In the Custom tab, you’ll find a huge selection of “By Echelon” workouts to choose from, which aren’t instructor-led but instead feature looped videos showing athletes performing each movement with proper form and technique — these workouts allow you to work at your own pace rather than feeling tied to the onscreen instructor. I used these to test out the various resistance modes — a feature that I was particularly curious about when researching the Strength Home. There are five resistance modes available:

  • Normal: Resistance is the same throughout the movement.

  • Concentric: Extra resistance is applied through the concentric (lifting or pushing) portion of the movement.

  • Eccentric: Extra resistance is applied through the eccentric (lowering or pulling) portion of the movement.

  • Isokinetic: Pushing/pulling speed is constant, but the resistance changes depending on the speed of the movement.

  • Elastic band: The further into the lift, the more resistance is applied.

I lean toward muscle hypertrophy training (a type of training that focuses on increasing muscle mass and size using specific techniques), and these lifting modes are an exciting new way to enhance the most muscle-stimulating portions of my lifts. Research shows that overloading the lowering phase of a movement (eccentric) can increase strength and muscle mass more effectively. The Strength Home’s eccentric mode adds 25% more load to the lowering phase of a movement, which is tricky to accomplish with regular free weights. Being able to do bicep curls with extra eccentric resistance at the press of a button? Yes, please.

Isokinetic movements, on the other hand, are ideal for improving strength through a full range of motion, especially after injury. It’s also a good function to use if you want to increase your athletic performance in sports like rowing, which the Echelon Strength Home can simulate using its adjustable free-moving pulleys.

The Custom tab also allows you to design your own workouts. You can build a custom workout by choosing your movements, sets and rep scheme, or you can perform as many reps as possible of each movement for a set period of time. The machine will log your reps, sets and total volume, as well as track your rests, and videos demonstrate proper form and technique for each lift. I did run into some bugs with custom workout creation, such as exercises not saving when attempting to program different rep schemes for each set, but a future software update might take care of that issue.

If you don’t want to take the time to design a workout, there’s a Freestyle option that lets you just plug and play. Simply begin a movement, do the number of sets you want, rest, then add another set or choose to begin a new exercise. You’ll still get an overall breakdown of your effort, time and workout progress.

Echelon Strength Home: It has its limitations

While there are plenty of exciting ways to use the Echelon Strength Home, there are some limitations. Using the barbell across your shoulders for movements like squats is tricky, and you’ll be capped at the amount of resistance you can lift to get the bar over your head and in place, which is far less than what most people would use for a squat. And while the platform accommodates many movements, larger people might have trouble with positioning comfortably to perform movements with proper form.

Perhaps the biggest drawback of any Echelon apparatus is that you need an Echelon Fit membership to get the most out of it, and with a Premier membership costing an additional $400 per year, it’s an expensive investment on top of an already pricey machine.

Without the $400 Premier membership, your access to classes is limited, though there should be more added in the future, according to the reps I spoke with. With the membership, there are on-demand classes for the machine, plus off-equipment workouts like yoga, stretching, meditation and HIIT.

Echelon Strength Home: Should you buy it?

Although I didn’t have access to what are likely the best classes through the app and Premier membership, the Strength Home could be a solid investment for people looking for an all-in-one strength training machine, especially those with limited space. As a digital machine, it seems durable, and its high-tech features, such as the different resistance modes, make it stand out more than a simple mechanical gym setup.

If you are a more advanced lifter or have a tight budget, I’d say to skip the Echelon Strength Home. Its limitations in resistance and use of the barbell for compound lifts like squats make it less appealing to those who can lift more weight. That said, if you plan to use it to squeak in more training at home when trying to build muscle or for rehabilitation purposes (with your doctor’s permission), then it could be a great accompaniment to a regular gym routine if you have the budget to spare.

Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.



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16 Video Game Features That Changed Industries

By Ace Vincent | Published 1 minute ago Video games have become more than just entertainment—they’ve become laboratories for innovation that spills over into countless other fields. When game developers solve problems like how to make virtual worlds feel real or how to keep millions of players engaged simultaneously, those solutions often find their way […]

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By Ace Vincent
| Published

Video games have become more than just entertainment—they’ve become laboratories for innovation that spills over into countless other fields. When game developers solve problems like how to make virtual worlds feel real or how to keep millions of players engaged simultaneously, those solutions often find their way into everything from military training to retail marketing.

The gaming industry’s relentless push for better graphics, smoother interactions, and more immersive experiences has quietly revolutionized how we work, learn, and connect. What starts as a feature designed to make a game more fun frequently ends up transforming entire industries in unexpected ways.

From the motion controls that changed how we think about human-computer interaction to the virtual economies that influenced real-world finance, gaming innovations have a habit of escaping their digital boundaries. Here is a list of 16 video game features that didn’t just change gaming—they changed the world.

Real-Time Ray Tracing

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Real-time ray tracing in games like ‘Control’ and ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ has revolutionized how architects and product designers visualize their creations. The technology now powers everything from automotive design studios to real estate virtual tours, allowing instant photorealistic rendering that once took hours to compute.

Motion Controls

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Nintendo’s Wii controller sparked a revolution that extended far beyond gaming into physical therapy and medical rehabilitation. Hospitals now use motion-sensing technology to help stroke patients regain motor skills, while fitness centers incorporate game-like motion tracking into workout routines.

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Virtual Reality Headsets

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VR gaming technology has transformed training programs across industries, from surgeons practicing complex procedures to pilots learning to fly without leaving the ground. The immersive environments first perfected for games now train astronauts, treat phobias, and help architects walk through buildings before they’re built.

In-Game Microtransactions

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The microtransaction model pioneered by mobile games has reshaped how software companies think about revenue, moving beyond one-time purchases to ongoing engagement strategies. This approach now influences everything from productivity apps to streaming services, creating subscription and add-on models across the tech industry.

Procedural Generation

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Games like ‘Minecraft’ and ‘No Man’s Sky’ popularized algorithms that create infinite, unique content automatically, a concept now used in everything from architectural design to drug discovery. Pharmaceutical companies use similar procedural techniques to generate potential molecular structures for new medications.

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Achievement Systems

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The badge and achievement systems that keep gamers engaged have been adopted by fitness apps, educational platforms, and workplace training programs. Companies now use gamified achievement structures to motivate employees, track progress, and encourage continued participation in professional development.

Cloud Gaming

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Streaming games from remote servers has paved the way for cloud computing adoption across industries, proving that complex applications can run smoothly over internet connections. This technology now powers everything from remote work solutions to on-demand video editing, eliminating the need for powerful local hardware.

Battle Royale Mechanics

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The last-player-standing format popularized by ‘Fortnite’ has influenced competition structures in reality TV, sports broadcasting, and even business conferences. Event organizers now use elimination-style formats to maintain audience engagement throughout lengthy programs.

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Voice Chat Integration

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Seamless voice communication systems developed for multiplayer games have become the backbone of remote work and online education. The technology that lets gamers coordinate in real-time now powers business meetings, virtual classrooms, and telemedicine consultations.

Loot Box Psychology

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The psychological principles behind loot boxes have influenced marketing strategies across the retail and entertainment industries, from mystery subscription boxes to collectible trading cards. Understanding player engagement and reward anticipation has shaped how companies design customer loyalty programs.

Cross-Platform Play

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The ability to play the same game across different devices has driven demand for universal compatibility in all software applications. This concept now influences how productivity tools, social media platforms, and streaming services ensure seamless experiences across phones, tablets, and computers.

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Augmented Reality Overlays

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AR features in games like ‘Pokémon GO’ have transformed how retailers and marketers think about location-based advertising and customer engagement. Stores now use AR to let customers visualize furniture in their homes, while museums create interactive historical experiences.

Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment

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Games that automatically adjust challenge levels based on player performance have influenced adaptive learning systems in education and training programs. Online courses and professional development platforms now use similar algorithms to personalize content difficulty for individual learners.

Blockchain-Based Ownership

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Games featuring player-owned digital assets have accelerated the adoption of blockchain technology in the art, music, and publishing industries. The concept of verified digital ownership pioneered in gaming now influences how creators sell and distribute digital content.

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Live Service Models

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Games that continuously evolve with regular updates and events have changed how software companies approach product development and customer retention. Everything from productivity apps to social media platforms now adopts similar strategies of constant iteration and community engagement.

Esports Infrastructure

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The competitive gaming ecosystem has created new models for sports broadcasting, talent management, and audience engagement that traditional sports are now adopting. Professional leagues are incorporating gaming-style statistics, instant replays, and interactive viewing experiences.

Beyond the Screen

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These gaming innovations prove that entertainment technology often becomes tomorrow’s essential business tool. What begins as a way to make virtual worlds more engaging frequently ends up solving real-world problems in medicine, education, architecture, and beyond.

The gaming industry’s constant experimentation with new ways to capture human attention and create meaningful experiences continues to generate ideas that transform how we work, learn, and interact with technology. The next time you see a new gaming feature, don’t just think about how it might improve your play experience—consider how it might change everything else.

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ICYMI: the week’s 7 biggest tech stories from the Nintendo Switch 2 launch to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra leaks

Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console! We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements. Once you’ve scrolled down to catch up […]

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Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console!

We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements.



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New PGA Tour Innovation Divides Fans

Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the […]

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Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans

In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the fairway, has sparked a heated debate among enthusiasts.

While some fans have welcomed the change as a step towards modernization and innovation, others have criticized it, arguing that it takes away the anticipation and uncertainty that makes watching golf exciting. One fan expressed, “It is so bad, I don’t need a robot to tell me where it thinks the ball will land, I can wait 2 seconds to find out myself.”

Speculations are rife that the PGA Tour’s new technology might have been inspired by LIV Golf, a rival league that has been attracting top players away from the traditional tour. With big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson having joined LIV Golf in recent years, the competition between the two leagues is at an all-time high.

Phil Mickelson, a vocal critic of the PGA Tour, highlighted the advantages of LIV Golf, emphasizing the need for more global and competitive events that bring together the best players in the world. Mickelson pointed out that the traditional model of the PGA Tour restricted players from competing against each other frequently and internationally, a limitation that LIV Golf has successfully addressed.

As the golfing world grapples with these significant changes and innovations, one thing is clear – the landscape of professional golf is evolving rapidly, with leagues like LIV Golf pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sport. The PGA Tour, faced with increasing competition and fan expectations, must continue to adapt and innovate to stay relevant in this dynamic environment.



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Bioniq Personalized Supplements Cristiano Ronaldo

Inside the surprising shift in who’s turning to Bioniq’s personalized supplements (and what they’re really after) With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge.  A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users […]

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Inside the surprising shift in who’s turning to Bioniq’s personalized supplements (and what they’re really after)

With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge. 

A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users across the U.S. and the GCC, reveals that older adults are just as engaged in health optimization as younger consumers. 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Vadim Fedotov celebrate Ronaldo's investment in Bioniq
Ronaldo (l) with Bioniq CEO Vadim Fedotov (credit: Bioniq)

The supplement brand, now valued at $82 million, analyzed more than six million biochemical data points using its proprietary AI algorithm, which integrates health quiz responses with blood test results. The findings offer insight into how consumers across generations and the two regions are redefining their wellness priorities.

Here are the most striking trends:

Move Over Gen Z, Midlife Has Momentum 

While Gen Z  is certainly invested in all things wellness and better-for-you foods, it’s adults aged 35 to 60 who are driving the deepest engagement. Bioniq’s data shows the most active users are men aged 35–45 and women 45–60, peaking at 50–55, representing a clear signal that midlife is when long-term health, energy, and disease prevention become top priorities.

The Obesity Dilemma

In the United States, 40% of quiz-takers were classified as obese, with men more likely to be overweight and less likely to fall within a healthy weight range compared to women. In contrast, only 20% of users in the GCC were categorized as obese, and nearly half of GCC women were classified as having a healthy weight.

Bioniq’s data shows that healthy-weight and overweight individuals are more likely to remain engaged with the program, while obese users exhibit lower retention. Although an active lifestyle is linked to stronger long-term participation, the findings suggest that users classified as obese may disengage if they don’t see immediate results. Bioniq notes this underscores the need for stronger education and motivational support to sustain engagement in this group.

Nutrient Concerns 

Bioniq found that in the U.S., individuals focused on health and nutrient deficiencies tended to be older, particularly in the 44–55 age group. In contrast, health-conscious users in the GCC skewed younger, with the largest segment falling between ages 30 and 45.

Among women aged 18–35, 30% identified iron deficiency as a key concern. Encouragingly, 94% of Bioniq Pro members in this group optimized their ferritin levels within six months — though interest in iron levels tends to decline with age, according to the personalized supplement company.

See Also


The Brain Game

Is cognitive health becoming more important than chasing six-pack abs? The data suggests so. Nearly half of all Bioniq users ranked memory and focus as their top wellness goals, with younger users especially prioritizing brain function, sleep quality and anxiety management.

Aging Well Remains Universal

Half of all men, regardless of age, listed muscle strength as a top health priority, with younger men focused on muscle mass, cognitive performance, and libido support. Older men, by contrast, are increasingly concerned with anti-aging, heart health, and bone strength.

For women, beauty and aging were the dominant themes. Younger users prioritized skin, hair, and nail health, while older women shifted their focus to memory and skin health. Across both genders, the desire to age well grows stronger with time.

Vadim Fedotov | credit: Bioniq

“At Bioniq, we’ve observed a significant transformation in our audience over the years,” Bioniq founder and CEO Vadim Fedotov said. “While we initially catered to health enthusiasts and athletes, we’re now seeing a growing demand from an older demographic seeking personalized solutions for healthy aging and longevity. Additionally, the rise in female customers highlights the increasing awareness and demand for tailored health optimization. This evolution reinforces our goal to provide science-backed, data-driven supplementation for every stage of life.”

This spring, Bioniq announced a partnership with social wellness club Remedy Place to launch Meridian, a personalized health assessment program available to club members. As a perk of the collaboration, Remedy Place members also receive personalized, co-branded Bioniq x Remedy Place canisters to store their supplements.





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Nvidia eyes big expansion of headquarters office hub in Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show. The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s […]

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SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show.

The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s complex on San Tomas Expressway, documents show.

2400 Condensa Street in Santa Clara, shown within the outline. Boundaries are approximate. The Nvidia headquarters campus is visible in the right center of the image.(Google Maps)
2400 Condensa Street in Santa Clara, shown within the outline. Boundaries are approximate. The Nvidia headquarters campus is visible in the right center of the image. (Google Maps)

“To support our growth as we push the boundaries of accelerated computing, we have submitted a permit application to expand our headquarters with additional offices, lab space, and parking,” an Nvidia spokesperson stated in comments emailed to this news organization.

Nvidia’s development plans envision the demolition of an office and research building that Nvidia already owns and occupies. The existing office building totals 215,500 square feet, according to commercial real estate database Property Shark.

That building is on a parcel that is roughly 11 acres, Property Shark estimates show.

Nvidia intends to replace the existing structure with a modern office building that is expected to total 324,000 square feet, according to Santa Clara planning files.

The development would also include a parking structure with about 2,900 vehicle spaces and 36 surface parking spaces, city documents show.

“We hope to start work on this third phase of our long-standing development agreement with the city in the fall,” the Nvidia spokesperson stated in the email.

Santa Clara-based Nvidia has embarked on a remarkable quest to widen its footholds in the South Bay, primarily through property purchases next to and near its headquarters. It has also pursued leasing deals in locations that include an office building in San Jose.

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Fitness Tracker Data Can Improve Medical Care

Concerns about privacy are stopping some people from being willing to share wearable tracker data with their doctor. (Dragon Images/Shutterstock) In a nutshell Although 94% of fitness tracker users say they’re willing to share their data with healthcare providers, only 43% have actually done so. Privacy concerns, especially among people with chronic health conditions, are […]

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A patient sharing fitness tracker data with doctor.A patient sharing fitness tracker data with doctor.

Concerns about privacy are stopping some people from being willing to share wearable tracker data with their doctor. (Dragon Images/Shutterstock)

In a nutshell

  • Although 94% of fitness tracker users say they’re willing to share their data with healthcare providers, only 43% have actually done so.
  • Privacy concerns, especially among people with chronic health conditions, are a major barrier to sharing wearable data during medical visits.
  • Doctors often lack the tools and infrastructure to use fitness tracker data effectively, highlighting a missed opportunity in modern healthcare.

ADELAIDE, Australia — Millions of Americans strap on Apple Watches, Fitbits, and other fitness trackers every day, diligently monitoring their steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. These devices generate a treasure trove of health data that could revolutionize how doctors treat patients, if only people would actually share it.

A new study from the University of South Australia reveals that while 94% of fitness tracker users say they’re willing to share their device data with healthcare providers, less than half have ever actually done so. Only 43% have directly shared their tracker information during medical appointments, despite the potential for this data to improve their care.

Published in the journal Healthcare, the research surveyed 447 current and former wearable activity tracker users across multiple countries to understand why there’s such a massive gap between good intentions and real-world behavior regarding health data sharing.

These numbers expose both an enormous opportunity and a fundamental problem in modern healthcare. Patients are increasingly taking charge of their own health monitoring through consumer devices, but this wealth of objective data isn’t making it into doctors’ offices where it could actually make a difference.

How This Impacts Healthcare

Person checking heart rate on smartwatchPerson checking heart rate on smartwatch
Fitness and health trackers show real-time health data. (Photo by Nik on Unsplash)

Traditional healthcare relies heavily on patients’ self-reported behaviors, such as how much they exercise, how well they sleep, and whether they’re taking their medications. But people are notoriously bad at accurately remembering and reporting these details. Fitness trackers, on the other hand, provide continuous, objective measurements that could give doctors a much clearer picture of their patients’ daily health behaviors.

The study found that people with chronic health conditions were more likely to have discussed or shared their tracker data with healthcare providers. Those patients typically have more frequent medical appointments and greater motivation to actively manage their health.

However, these same patients were also more likely to express concerns about sharing their data, creating a paradox where the people who could benefit most from data sharing are also the most worried about it.

Privacy Worries

Privacy emerged as the top concern among the 26% of participants who had reservations about sharing their tracker data. Only 10% of all participants cited privacy as a specific worry, but it was by far the most common concern mentioned.

Australian participants were significantly less likely to have shared their data with healthcare providers compared to Americans, while U.S. participants reported fewer privacy concerns overall. This suggests cultural attitudes toward health data sharing vary considerably, even among developed nations with similar healthcare systems.

People between 35 and 44 were more likely to have shared their tracker data than younger adults aged 18 to 24, while those aged 45 to 54 expressed the most concerns about data sharing. This pattern suggests that middle-aged adults may see the most immediate value in sharing health data, while older adults remain more cautious.

Researchers conducted their survey between February and May 2023, recruiting participants through Amazon Mechanical Turk and Facebook. They included adults who had used a fitness tracker within the past three years for at least one month, excluding those who only used smartphone apps without an actual wearable device.

The final sample was predominantly young (84% under 45), female (60%), and well-educated (75% had higher education qualifications). Most participants came from the United States (60%) or Australia (27%), with the remainder from 31 other countries.

Participants answered questions about whether they’d discussed or shared their tracker data with healthcare providers, their willingness to do so, and any concerns they had about such sharing. The survey also collected information about participants’ demographics, health status, and tracker usage patterns.

What People Actually Use These Devices For

Most participants used popular brands like Apple (45%), Fitbit (20%), and Garmin (20%). About 80% were current users, while 20% had stopped using their devices. Daily usage was common, with 66% using their trackers every day.

Most people reported that their fitness trackers actually helped them become more active. About 66% said they had either constantly increased their activity or increased and maintained higher activity levels since using their devices.

When participants did share data with healthcare providers, they most commonly did so through proprietary apps, verbally during appointments, or via direct messaging. The contexts usually involved tracking health metrics, setting goals, or discussing specific health concerns.

Woman running and checking her heart rate on her fitness trackerWoman running and checking her heart rate on her fitness tracker
Sharing tracker data could allow doctors to provide more personalized care to patients. (Prostock-studio/Shutterstock)

Many healthcare systems simply aren’t equipped to handle patient-generated data from consumer devices. Current fitness trackers often don’t meet healthcare systems’ stringent privacy and security requirements, and many doctors lack training on how to interpret and use this information effectively.

The researchers noted that developing secure data management solutions for wearable devices, including encryption or de-identification features, could help address privacy concerns and enable safer use of this data during clinical encounters.

The Missed Opportunity

The sheer volume of health data being generated but not utilized is overwhelming. The global wearable activity tracker market is valued at approximately $63 billion and projected to reach $352 billion by 2033. With roughly 20% of Australian adults and 39% of U.S. adults owning fitness trackers, there’s an enormous amount of objective health data being collected every day.

Unlike traditional medical data, which is collected sporadically during doctor visits, fitness trackers provide continuous monitoring. This real-time data could help doctors spot trends, adjust treatments, and provide more personalized care recommendations.

In order to implement tracker data effectively, we need to develop more secure data-sharing platforms, train healthcare providers on how to use tracker data effectively, and create clearer guidelines for when and how this data should be incorporated into clinical decision-making.

Patients are ready and willing to share their fitness tracker data with doctors, but the healthcare system isn’t ready to receive it. Bridging this gap could unlock significant improvements in how we monitor and manage health, but it will require investment in technology, training, and privacy protections to make it work.

Paper Summary

Methodology

Researchers conducted an international online survey from February to May 2023, recruiting participants through Amazon Mechanical Turk and Facebook. They included 447 adults aged 18 and older who had used a wearable activity tracker for at least one month within the past three years. Participants were excluded if they only used smartphone apps without physical devices or if their trackers didn’t measure physical activity. The survey asked about demographics, tracker usage patterns, experiences sharing data with healthcare providers, and willingness or concerns about data sharing. Statistical analysis used multivariate logistic regression to examine relationships between participant characteristics and data-sharing attitudes.

Results

Of 447 participants, 94% expressed willingness to share tracker data with healthcare providers, but only 47% had ever discussed their data with providers and 43% had directly shared it. About 26% had concerns about sharing, with privacy being the most common worry (cited by 10% of participants). People with chronic health conditions were more likely to both share data and express concerns. Geographic differences emerged, with Australian participants less likely to share data and U.S. participants reporting fewer privacy concerns. The sample was predominantly young (84% under 45), female (60%), well-educated (75% higher education), and from the U.S. (60%) or Australia (27%).

Limitations

Several limitations affected this study including potential self-selection bias since people interested in the topic may have been more likely to participate. The sample was not representative of the general population, being skewed toward younger, more educated, and tech-savvy individuals primarily from the U.S. and Australia. The survey design may have introduced recall bias, particularly among former tracker users who might not accurately remember past clinical encounters. Additionally, the model examining participant concerns had a low events-per-variable ratio, making those estimates less stable and requiring cautious interpretation.

Funding and Disclosures

The research received no external funding. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics committee. The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Data from the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Publication Information

This study was published in the journal Healthcare, volume 13, issue 11, article number 1215, on May 22, 2025. The full citation is: Szeto, K.; Maher, C.; Curtis, R.G.; Singh, B.; Cain, T.; Beckett, D.; Ferguson, T. “User Experiences and Attitudes Toward Sharing Wearable Activity Tracker Data with Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional Study.” The research was conducted by the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity at the University of South Australia.



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