A Japanese company has developed a pedometer calculates how much money is saved on taxi fares as well as how many calories are burned by walking instead of hopping into a cab.
The new device, called the Taxi Walker, has gone on sale in Japan in a bid to discourage those determined to lose weight from succumbing to the temptation of hailing a taxi instead of walking.
Just like getting in a cab, the pedometer is fitted with a "meter" which starts at £5 (710 yen) – the initial fare for most Tokyo taxis – which covers walking distances of up to 2 km.
When the 2km post is past, the pedometer "meter" adds an additional 64p (90 yen) for every 280 metres covered, to highlight how much money the walker is saving.
The device, which measures 4cm by 5cm, is available in an array of hues but the yellow colour with a checkerboard trim is reportedly the most popular due to its resemblance to a Tokyo taxi cab.
From budget conscious housewives to taxi happy business men keen to cut expenses and their waistlines, the device is designed to target an array of people, according to Kayoko Sakaba, who is in charge of advertising at Happinet, the company which makes the device.
"Especially after going out for drinks, people often go home by taxi, so they can use it in such situations," she said.
"It also shows the number of calories (burned), so as you're losing weight you also feel like you're saving money." Initial fares and per-metre charges can be adjusted to correspond with differing taxi fares in other regions of Japan, while higher speeds and long-distance walking options are also available on the device, which sells for £14.75 (2,079 yen) and is currently only available in Japan.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/
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