New Apple app launches in Britain that pays people to get fit

Health matters: Oleg shows off the sweat coin app, the latest initiative in an emerging fitness economy.

FRANKFURT:  A free smartphone app that will pay people to be physically active launches on Wednesday in Britain, with users given digital "sweatcoins" depending on how many steps they take that can be exchanged for rewards or traded like money.

It's the latest initiative in an emerging fitness economy that includes all manner of monitoring devices, apps that reward activity with vouchers and even experiments in offering cheap insurance to people who can demonstrate they exercise.