Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Gym Equipment Can Endanger Several Parties
The earlier post about Bluetooth was a timely reminder that newer is not always better, certainly not better for the rights of people. Earlier today we had a "day out" (vacation). I tried using a treadmill with an "updated" UI - it was worse than before (slower and harder to navigate). The "updated" TV kept showing pop-ups that in effect disrupted everything. 4 times in a row. It had to be rebooted (Tizen, Linux). The treadmills and all other machines are not connected to the Net, probably by intention, but they tune into Bluetooth and try to identify people in their vicinity.
Whose idea or design was this? It imperils safety of persons on equipment.
The same is true for all so-called 'modern' cars. There's a way to crack almost everything (holes take time to be discovered and exploited) "and the radio has Bluetooth, too." So said an associate. "Almost none of any of those are updatable in any way, shape, or form."
How did we get to the point where a treadmill "needs" Bluetooth and expects Wi-Fi or Ethernet? What for? Uploading data? The trekking needn't connect to the Net, as all the videos are stored locally.
Recently Louis Rossmann spoke about the dangers of Bluetooth, at least in passing (it's at about 4:00 onward, for a minute or so).
Joy oh joy! Give us more "smart" things. █
Image source: Spa at the Midland