Lifestyle

How to Create Your Own Home Workout Studio

Published

3 years ago

September 7, 2021

Regular exercisers typically love the outdoors, whether they run, bike, or simply walk outside – but the weather isn’t always conducive to exercise. Your local gym offers a perfect indoor workout area, but membership fees can be expensive, crowds can be annoying, and on top of that, it might take 10 minutes or longer just to get there.

That’s why so many people are turning inward, looking to create a home workout studio where they can exercise in privacy and comfort. But how can you go about this?

The Location

First, you’ll need to think about the location for your workout studio. Technically, any room in your living space can work, but some rooms will be closer to the ideal than others.

Consider:

Vertical space. Certain exercises are going to require an abundance of vertical space, especially if you’re already tall. Standing on a treadmill or an elliptical machine shouldn’t introduce the risk of hitting your head on the ceiling. You may also need enough room to do standing overhead presses or jumping jacks.
Horizontal space. You’ll also need to plan for horizontal space. Depending on the exercises you’re doing, you might want space to walk around – or enough space to include many pieces of equipment.
Proximity to others. Where is your target room placed in proximity to others? Depending on your objectives, you may want a room that affords you more privacy, or one where your noise won’t bother the other occupants of your household.
Unique features. Miscellaneous other room features also come into play. For example, you may want a window if you like natural light – or you may not want any windows, so you can feel a better sense of privacy.

The Floor

Next, you’ll need to think about the floor. The ideal floor for a workout space will be soft, cushioning your body if you’re doing floor exercises. It will also serve as a shock absorber, reducing the strain on your joints while simultaneously protecting the structures underneath. Of course, you’ll also want to look for something inexpensive, so you don’t spend your entire budget on the floor.

Exercise room flooring is designed to give you the best of all possible worlds. It’s affordable, cushiony, easy to install, and perfect for protecting your floors (and in some cases, your body).

The Equipment

Once you have the right flooring installed, you’ll be able to focus more on the equipment. For the most part, you’ll want to invest in the best quality equipment you can afford; cheap equipment may wear out faster, or may be unsafe, making the money you save in the transaction not worth it.

There are many options, including:

Cardio machines. Various machines exist to help you get a cardiovascular workout. These include things like treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and even rowing machines. One is typically ample to give you a good start, but multiple options can also be valuable to keep your workouts feeling fresh.
Dumbbells and barbells. Dumbbells and barbells. Dumbbells and barbells are versatile, especially if you get an adjustable set of dumbbells, allowing you to lift weight and add resistance to various calisthenic exercises. You can get the hex dumbbells set with rack, this equipment can help your overall workout routine.
Cable machines. If you have the budget for it, a cable-based weight machine can also be valuable, helping you do exercises you can’t do with free weights alone.
Miscellaneous extras. There are dozens of extras to consider as well, including benches, pullup bars, kettlebells, inflatable exercise balls, and specialized equipment for different workout routines.

When you’re buying equipment, these tips can help you plan your home gym more effectively:

Set a budget in advance. Figure out how much money you’re willing to spend without impacting your long-term financial health. Once you have this figure, you’ll be in a much better position to set priorities.
Understand your personal priorities. What do you want to achieve when working out? If you know you want to focus on building muscle, for example, weights are going to be more important than cardio equipment.
Consider buying used. You can often get high-quality machinery and equipment for a reasonable price if you buy used. Just be sure to test the equipment for any flaws or defects before you commit to a purchase.

Leaving Room for Expansion

Few among us can buy and assemble a perfect home workout studio from the outset. Over time, your workout priorities might change. Your old equipment might break down. You might have more money to spend. Or there might be new types of equipment you want to include.

Because of this, it’s important to leave room for expansion. Keep an open mind about your next acquisitions, and leave some space in your workout room for a new piece of equipment to come in the future.

Lifestyle

NeuThrone’s AI-Enhanced Sunglasses Bring Privacy to the Fashion World with “Deepfake Camouflage”

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Michelle Langton

Photo credit: NeuThrone

By: Andi Stark

Privacy concerns have become more prevalent as digital technology increasingly permeates daily life. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) that can capture, replicate, and manipulate images raise questions about the limits of personal freedom in public spaces.

NeuThrone, a new player in the luxury streetwear market, is tackling these concerns head-on with its VISIONARIES sunglasses. Debuted at New York Fashion Week, the sunglasses offer a novel “deepfake camouflage” feature that disrupts AI systems’ ability to copy human faces. NeuThrone’s founders, Tim Shea and Eze Blaine, have created a brand that merges high fashion with technological privacy solutions—a first in an industry still adapting to AI’s impact on personal privacy.

A Fusion of Fashion and Privacy Technology

NeuThrone’s VISIONARIES sunglasses reflect an emerging trend: blending fashion with function. The brand’s “deepfake camouflage” design addresses a pressing issue for those who are wary of AI’s encroachment on their personal privacy. The eyewear features an invisible watermark that interferes with AI systems like Stable Diffusion, making it difficult for the systems to capture and replicate the wearer’s face. In doing so, the VISIONARIES line goes beyond aesthetics, catering to individuals who seek to limit the collection and misuse of their digital identity.

The glasses’ unique feature speaks to a growing demand for privacy-conscious products. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 64% of Americans feel that privacy protections are insufficient in the current digital environment. “People want more control over how their images are used,” says NeuThrone’s CEO Tim Shea. “Our goal with VISIONARIES is to create something stylish yet practical—a way for individuals to take back a bit of their personal privacy.”

The Technology Behind “Deepfake Camouflage”

The technology embedded in NeuThrone’s sunglasses incorporates complex algorithms designed to disrupt AI systems. Normally, AI systems can effortlessly replicate someone’s likeness, based on a small number of photographs. But the sunglasses interfere with this ability, overloading the AI tools with superfluous detail so that they struggle to faithfully reproduce the subject’s face.

Unlike similar products that may compromise style for function, the VISIONARIES glasses remain visually appealing, akin to designs from luxury houses like Yves Saint Laurent or Off-White. Shea and Blaine, veterans from the advertising industry, wanted to create a functional and elegant line. “It’s critical that we create products that blend into daily life,” explains Shea. “We didn’t want this to feel like another high-tech gadget; it’s streetwear with a purpose.”

The glasses’ functionality is inspired by a suite of AI technologies like Stable Diffusion that NeuThrone repurposed for personal privacy. The deepfake camouflage watermark builds on open-source AI tools, adapting them to mask human likenesses rather than recreate them. This technological pivot speaks to a new kind of consumer product where privacy is integrated by design.

A Strategic Debut at New York Fashion Week

NeuThrone debuted with a purposefully provocative launch at New York Fashion Week, where its VISIONARIES sunglasses quickly caught attention. The event provided a platform for the brand to engage directly with an audience of fashion insiders, influencers, and early adopters. The brand’s sunglasses sparked intrigue not only for their style but for their potential as privacy-protective fashion.

By presenting at Fashion Week, the brand captured the interest of influencers who shared the product on social media, leading to further conversations about digital privacy. The event’s visibility allowed NeuThrone to connect with consumers who value control over their digital identity.

The Founders’ Vision: AI for Privacy and Identity

NeuThrone’s founders bring a background in advertising and brand-building to their venture, drawing on years of experience working with major brands like Apple, Nike, and Facebook. Shea and Blaine met while working at TBWA\Chiat\Day, an ad agency where they learned the power of storytelling and branding. With NeuThrone, they are applying that experience to a venture that focuses not only on aesthetic value but also on ethical implications.

For Shea, the rise of generative AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity. “There’s a real anxiety around AI right now—especially about how it’s being used without consent,” he says. “We wanted to offer something that spoke directly to that, something that would empower people.”

Blaine, the Chief Creative Officer, has a similar outlook, believing that brands should reflect cultural shifts. He emphasizes that the design of VISIONARIES is rooted in an understanding of AI’s impact on society and individual autonomy.

NeuThrone’s Market Position and Future Plans

NeuThrone’s VISIONARIES sunglasses are a significant step forward in the emerging market for AI-enhanced luxury products. Unlike traditional brands, which may see AI as a means of production efficiency, NeuThrone applies AI with a consumer-first perspective to enhance privacy rather than solely as a marketing tool. According to a recent forecast by Grand View Research, the global luxury eyewear market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030, reaching over $24 billion. The company’s entry into this market coincides with the trend toward more specialized, tech-driven luxury goods.

The company’s plans go beyond sunglasses, with future releases to expand its “deepfake camouflage” technology into other wearable products. The team has hinted at partnerships with creators across industries, including rappers and filmmakers, who share concerns about digital privacy. The company’s strategy includes a series of limited-edition product drops, tapping into the growing “drop culture” trend in luxury fashion.

NeuThrone’s next release will be auctioned in a Dutch-style format, a nod to the exclusivity that appeals to its target demographic. By meaningfully incorporating AI into luxury streetwear, NeuThrone is not only setting a precedent for privacy-conscious fashion but also responding to a critical societal issue.