Latest news with #ForeverYoung
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
The robots will massage you now
The just-opened Beacon Street spot uses a machine called the Aescape, which has been hailed as both the future of massage therapy and also a vexing reminder of how AI is coming for our jobs — even ones that rely on the most hands-on of interactions, human touch. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up For owner Derrick Young, the Aescape is an opportunity. Advertisement Young (as in Forever Young) has worked in public health in Boston for a decade and now runs a nonprofit, Derrick Young looked at the AI-enabled massage robot, called the Aescape, at Forever Young Spa in Boston. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Enter the Aescape. The robotics company first launched its devices in some Equinox gyms last year and has raised some And, no, they don't envision a wave of spas staffed solely by robots, framing their machines more as an extra set of hands (arms?) as a 'complimentary tool' to support the human masseuse. Advertisement Lynne McNees, the president of trade group the International SPA Association, said she doesn't view Aescape as a threat, but rather a smart solution for the $22 billion industry, which is struggling to recruit enough licensed professionals to meet demand. As of 2024, McNees said, an iSPA industry report calculated a 17,760-person massage therapist shortage nationwide. And in surveys, 55 percent of customers indicated they're interested in incorporating cutting-edge technology alongside traditional treatments. 'The Aescape robotic massage is not going to ever replace the human touch,' she said. But 'spa owners and operators have had to get creative and put in touchless amenities to not turn people away.' Aescape rents its devices to vendors like Young for about $5,000 a month, but only if they also employ human therapists. Young sees his Aescape as 'a co-creator and a colleague,' and an option for potential customers who might be disinclined to seek out a massage from a stranger. 'So many people have told me that they don't like humans touching them, or taking off their clothes' for a treatment, he said. 'This is a great alternative for people who don't like traditional massage therapy.' It's also less expensive; an hourlong Aescape session is $150, while Forever Young's traditional, human, massages (if that's how we need to distinguish them now) start at $200 an hour. Advertisement Of course, I had to try it out. So what is it like? After a cup of tea upon arrival, customers are asked to disrobe, and then put on Aerwear — a body-hugging T-shirt and leggings that provide friction for the robot arms. Aerwear is not optional. 'Without it,' Aescape's website warns, 'the robotics will feel like rug burn.' The massage table itself is shaped like a lower-case 'i,' with robotic arms situated on either side, each with a half-dozen 'joints' allowing for a wide range of mobility. Like a traditional massage table, your face rests on a small circular pillow with an opening to breathe and see through. But here, a tablet that controls the robot is placed several inches from your face, allowing you to adjust the height of the pillows, the placement of the leg bolster, and ultimately the massage experience itself. A demonstration of the AI-enabled massage given by Aescape at Forever Young Spa. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff There's also a big red button that acts like an emergency brake, should the robot get too grabby. It's not unlike the abort button on a treadmill; indeed, the Aescape has the aesthetic of high-end fitness equipment. Once the attendant leaves the room, it's just you and the device. No small talk, no weird moment of tucking your naked body under a blanket and waiting for the door to reopen. There's no Ayurveda oil, warm stones, or eucalyptus-scented candles. Instead, there were two phone tripods, a phone camera remote, and lens-cleaning wipes, presumably for the influencers who have been early visitors to the spa. When you lie down on your belly, the device uses four cameras to create a full-body scan before the start of the treatment. On the screen in front of my face, an image of my backside appears, and a triangle of muscles on my right shoulder that seemed larger than the ones on my left. A good sign after weeks of right shoulder and neck pain, I thought as I hit the start button and held my breath. Advertisement The robot's first touch was warm, and felt like a series of purposeful footsteps down my back. I imagined an actual robot, not two disembodied arms, traversing down my backbone at a steady, methodical pace. I switched the screen before me to a video of a rainstorm soaking a forest. Calming music played as the robot arms danced along my shoulders and upper back. At first, the sensation felt familiar, a bit like a massage chair at a nail salon. Then the pressure changed, and for a moment, the robot's nubby nodes felt like fingertips pushing into a hollow between my shoulder blade and spine. It actually felt good. For a few minutes, the robot's arms twirled like an orchestra conductor's along my back and shoulders. The pressure was consistent, but the motions were unpredictable, and felt, with eyes closed, much like a real massage. When I toggled the tablet screen to the digital image of my back, and saw that there was a menu tracking the stages of the treatment. Two firefly-like circles, representing the robot's 'hands,' traversed my spine, glowing brighter as more pressure was applied. Watching the screen, it felt like a game to see where the flies would land next. It was time to see what this robot could do, and I upped the pressure. Advertisement As the robot's arms moved toward the small of my back, I wondered, for a quick moment, if its AI-enabled brain was wise enough not to completely squash me like a bug. Does anyone ever have to push that red button to avoid being pinned by these robotic arms? I wondered. But then my mind shifted and I realized that it had begun its massage of my butt. The massage moved steadily down my body — I'd signed up for a 45-minute treatment that involved glutes and hamstrings, so this wasn't a complete surprise — but by the time the robot arms began to reach my hamstrings a few minutes later, I was feeling the downside of not having a human in the loop. I wanted more work on my stiff shoulder, but there was no way to reprogram a massage once it has begun. You can skip through a part you don't like, but you can't pick where the massage goes next. The tablet lets you tap a heart to 'like' when the robot is getting you at the good spot, to help program future massages. But on this day, there was no verbal feedback loop, no way to have the machine focus on a given area (like my shoulder) unless you'd set it up ahead of time (Young said an upgrade to allow for such requests was installed this week). And despite Aescape's AI-enabled smarts, at this point at least, the body scan doesn't seem to inform any kind of diagnosis on what problem areas need more attention. Young acknowledges that the Aescape may not be for everyone. 'At the end of the day, there is something about he human touch that a robot just won't be able to meet,' Young said. 'At the same time, it allows us to cater to a different audience, those folks not comfortable with someone touching them.' Advertisement After 45 minutes, the robot arms began easing up, giving my back gentle pressure to reset my muscles. My shoulder begged for a few more nudges, but alas, the massage was literally out of my hands. The massage ended, the screen went dark, and the machine reminded me to sip some water. Out in the lobby, 'Forever Young' was again playing on the radio. 'Do you really want to live forever?' the song asked. If you do, maybe the Aescape will be there too. Janelle Nanos can be reached at
STV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Tattoo studio owners 'lose everything' after fire destroys four-storey building
The owners of a tattoo studio destroyed by a fire in Kilmarnock have said they have 'lost everything'. Six fire engines and two specialist units were sent to the well-developed fire at a four-storey building on King Street around 9pm on Monday. Emergency services remain on the scene of the fire that spread to a number of premises. Hard Luck Tattoo Studio opened in the town centre building in June after a year of renovations. Owner Niky Brown told STV News that he and partner Kirsty Donald, 30, have 'lost everything', including equipment worth £50,000 to £60,000. Over a dozen tattoo artists have also had their livelihoods destroyed. A fundraiser to help the team has already raised over £13,000. The 37-year-old business owner admitted he had 'tears in his eyes' watching the fire take hold. Forever Young/Supplied Fire destroys four-storey building 'We've lost everything. We have a three-month-old, too. 'We're just a small business, we've only eight other staff', he said. 'We've lost around £50,000 worth of equipment. Tattoo machines are expensive. 'I had tears in my eyes, to be honest, I've never seen anything like that in my life, it was something from a Hollywood film.' Police say investigations into the cause of the fire, which caused the building the collapse, are ongoing. The town's Burns Mall has been closed, and members of the public have been urged to avoid the area as emergency services remain on the scene. There have been no reports of any injuries, something Niky said he can be grateful for. 'That's the scary thing, one of the boys was meant to work, but I told him not to work. Thankfully, he didn't. 'My livelihood has been destroyed, but I'm grateful no one has been hurt.' STV News King St fire: Niky Brown said his livelihood has been 'destroyed'. A GoFundMe has been launched and also already raised over £13,000 to help replace the tattoo equipment and allow staff to return to work. 'I just want to say thank you very much from everyone in the town and surrounding areas, hopefully I can get the equipment back and get back open soon. 'Take care and appreciate what you have. Might be gone tomorrow', he added. You can donate to the GoFundMe here. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 8.58pm on Monday, July 14, to reports of a fire to the rear of a commercial building on King Street, Kilmarnock. 'At its height, operations control mobilised six appliances and specialist resources to the scene of a well-developed fire affecting a four-storey building, which partially collapsed. 'There are no reported casualties. 'Two appliances and specialist resources remain at the scene as they work to make the area safe.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Standard
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Standard
HAWK EYE VIEW: Romantic Warrior third pick in HOTY tussle
Forever Young (Left) beats Romantic Warrior by a neck in the Saudi Cup. The margin might be the difference in Romantic Warrior's Horse of the Year hopes (HKJC)
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Blackpink's Jennie faces backlash after viral video shows her allegedly being rude towards stage staff
Blackpink member Jennie is facing online backlash after a video of her appearing to behave rudely towards her staff during a concert surfaced on social media. The clip, shared widely by fans and critics alike, captures a moment during the group's Deadline World Tour where Jennie's shoe issue interrupts her performance of "Forever Young". Moments later, she is seen interacting with a staff member. The video has triggered a wave of criticism from netizens. One social media user posted, 'Even if it's a concert, it doesn't mean she can treat the staff as she wants.' Another wrote, 'Workers are humans too, and they're the closest to you, followed by the fans. If she really can't treat her workers right now, how much more her fans?' Blackpink is currently on their Deadline World Tour, which began on July 5 at the Goyang Stadium in South Korea and continues through January 2026 with stops in Los Angeles, Paris, London, Jakarta, and more. The group has reunited after focusing on solo music activities and is performing to sold-out crowds across continents. The incident has divided fans, with some defending Jennie while others demand accountability for her public behaviour.
Pink Villa
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Fact Check: Did BLACKPINK's Jennie behave ‘rudely' with staff at Goyang concert? Fans reveal truth behind shoe mishap clip
On June 5 and 6, BLACKPINK reunited in full force. They kicked off their highly anticipated DEADLINE world tour with back-to-back concerts at the Goyang Stadium. The venue was packed with fans from all walks of life, ranging from everyday supporters to celebrities. BLINKs had eagerly awaited the group's return to the stage. During the shows, BLACKPINK premiered their new track, Jump, electrifying the audience with its high energy and bold choreography. However, it was an unexpected moment involving Jennie that ended up stealing headlines. Jennie's on-stage shoe malfunction goes viral Despite the electrifying performances, one particular moment unexpectedly stole the spotlight: a shoe mishap involving Jennie during the performance of Forever Young. Midway through the number, Jennie appeared to experience difficulty with her footwear. It prompted her to signal crew members for help. The brief disruption was caught on camera. A clip showing Jennie animatedly communicating with the staff quickly made rounds online. In the video, she points toward her foot and appears to explain how the shoe should be fixed. Her actions seemed hurried, likely due to the pace of the concert and the need to jump back into choreography. However, the moment sparked a wave of polarizing responses. Netizens criticize Jennie for 'rude' behavior As the video spread, some netizens criticized Jennie's tone and gestures. They label her behavior as 'impolite' or 'entitled.' Several social media users interpreted her expressions and body language as dismissive toward the backstage crew. They even go as far as to use harsh language and personal insults in their commentary. The backlash grew rapidly, with some accusing the idol of being ungrateful despite the hard work of the staff behind the scenes. Fans defend Jennie However, many fans pushed back against the criticism. They argued that Jennie's urgency was misunderstood. Supporters pointed out that she was smiling during part of the interaction. Supporters also point out that her gestures seemed more focused on solving the problem quickly rather than scolding anyone. Others emphasized that performance issues like wardrobe or shoe malfunctions are common. They added that such problems need immediate attention to prevent injury or disrupt the group's coordination. With many more stops ahead on the DEADLINE tour, fans are hoping that future shows will focus more on the music, rather than viral controversies. Regardless of the online noise, BLACKPINK's Goyang concerts made one thing clear: the queens are back, and they're just getting started.
