Today, there are numerous gadgets and applications that work to help us accomplish our day to day tasks with little to no physical effort. These technologies enable busy professionals and parents like myself to do more in our day. However, these same conveniences can sometimes instead help to promote a sedentary lifestyle.

As it turns out, there are an increasing number of gadgets and apps that work to promote an active lifestyle through quantifying the physical exertion you do make and rewarding you for doing more.

The Nike+ FuelBand and it’s accompanying web and iPhone software is Nike’s answer to the growing demand for devices and services that help to motivate activity, track progress, and reward the user for the effort.

The FuelBand is a seemingly simple wristband packed with geeky gadgety goodness.

The FuelBand has a Pedometer to count your steps, approximates the Calories you’re burning, and tallies up your “Fuel Score Points” – Nike’s proprietary measurement of activity. All this data can then be easily synced with your computer over USB or iPhone over Bluetooth.

The Helpy Features:

It’s A Watch

The Nike FuelBand actually makes a pretty stylish watch. When you press the button to check the time, status LEDs underneath show you at a glance how close to your point goal you are for the day.

It’s A Great Motivational Tool

The best feature of the FuelBand is how it sends my data to my iPhone and motivates me in a fun and engaging way by “Gamifying” the whole system. Just like an addictive video game, I find myself trying to beat my last score or at the very least, beat my fellow friends’ FuelBand scores.

Some argue that the Nike Fuel Point system isn’t an accurate measure of activity making it somewhat useless in precisely gauging activity. But consider this: Although a basic compass may not give you pinpoint navigational accuracy, it will certainly help you gauge which direction you’re headed.

In the days before my FuelBand, I’d come home at the end of the day and sit on the couch with my kids. Now, when I see I’m just a few hundred points from my goal or simply want to add to my score, I’ll take the kids out for a walk or take them to the playground. This makes me a winner as a Dad as well as on the Leader Board.

The FuelBand enables me to track my activity, monitor trends, and set achievable milestones for myself… Not to mention be a funner Dad. It’s my daily activity compass. Or at the very least, a really stylish watch.

The Nike+ FuelBand is $149.