Interactive Health Technologies, an Austin, Texas-based provider of digital fitness systems, has added NFC technology from Sony to its Spirit System school fitness program.

Now available to schools across America, Spirit System enables schools to track students’ physical activity and fitness progress through NFC-enabled Spirit Heart Rate Monitor devices equipped with Sony NFC Dynamic Tag (FeliCa Plug) technology. To log their fitness information, students simply tap the heart monitor against an NFC reader.

According to IHT, the system effectively measures each student’s cardio activity, enabling educators to evaluate the student’s physical activity and endurance. The IHT Spirit system also includes a comprehensive curriculum approved by the state of Texas.

“The crisis of childhood obesity we collectively face in our nation demands innovative, new solutions,” commented Jen Ohlson, founder of Interactive Health Technologies, adding that the Spirit System is a PE and fitness model for the 21st century.

“Sony NFC Dynamic Tag has been proven in the Japanese market with various health care, wellness and fitness devices and perfectly fits into the management of PE curriculum,” added Susumu Sone, Senior Manager for Marketing and Business Development of NFC/FeliCa at Sony Electronics.