10000 steps for $1

Many of you may have heard about Bitwalking (http://www.bitwalking.com/)
This is a very interesting concept that may become mainstream.

Many proposals can be made in order to adapt salaries to whatever we think is fair.
Ultimately, people exchange their time for money but several variables influence this.
Work load and conditions vary a lot. 8 hours of carrying heavy boxes is not the same as 8 hours sending e-mails. Carrying boxes is harder but usually pays less because it doesn't add value or whatever reason.

As stated in the website:
"With bitwalking, you can generate money by walking. A step is worth the same value for everyone - no matter who you are, or where you are."

• How does it work?
  An app tracks your steps and generate a currency called Walking Dollars (W$).

• What can I do with W$?
  Not much.. yet. Companies and stores are yet to integrate the system. Investors, however, have begun to support this concept.

• Will it make a difference?
  Perhaps Bitwalking won't be that important in developed countries because most people earn money anyway but everyone can install the app and generate a few extra dollars while walking.
  In the short term, the main difference will be noticed in developing countries where people walk several miles everyday and have miserable salaries. They can even earn more by walking than in their regular occupations.

• How can they use W$ in developing countries?
  They won't have to. W$ can be traded by USD. The transaction platform is not yet totally functional but I hope it will soon.

• How do these worlds interact to help each other?
  Imagine you want to buy something... let's say an iPad Mini 2 (http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-2). It will cost you $269.
  Now imagine an Apple store integrates the system and allows you to pay either in USD or W$. The bitcoin app has been tracking your steps and you generated W$50. It's yours. It's in your account.
  What would you do to buy the iPad? Spend $269 was the only solution before Bitwalking but now you can just buy the W$ you need (269 - 50 = 219W$ = 219$) and buy the iPad using W$.
  Who is going to have W$ for sale? Anyone can but I bet you are reading my mind right now.
  Imagine someone from a poor country that walks ten miles a day and earns less than $30 a month from his/her job. This person who generates lots of W$ would gladly trade them for USD that would make a big difference in his/her life.

This is not a bright idea of mine. This is being tested. The app is being implemented in wristbands and usb sticks to improve portability and reduce costs.

You can read a good summary here and please make sure you read this article.

Obviously the system is not perfect and there are many things to improve but when I think something is a good idea I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of it and endorse the whole thing than do this.

My experience

I turn the app on and just do my daily life. Yesterday I didn't walk much and I just made 0,16W$.

I have 13,47W$ in my wallet

For the moment I can't buy or sell W$ because the feature is not available in my country yet.
In the app they inform the bitwalking store is coming. They ask us how we would like to spend our W$ in the future and give us the following options: Spotify Premium, Tidal, Netflix, Mubi and Dropbox.

You can see it is not a major thing right now but it has the potential to become a game changer.
I'll continue to fill my wallet with W$ that I earn by walking the same I would walk anyway and hope one day I'll have the chance to use them.

Thanks for reading. I hope I was able to convince you to become a bitwalker!

Cheers,
RMach