Startup Offers A New High-Tech Way to Pay on the Go Vitaband gives exercisers a comfortable alternative to carrying cash or cards

For hard-core runners, carrying money during a workout can get messy. Many running shorts lack pockets, and those that have them haven't quite figured out a way to keep the sweat out (we know--gross).

Philadelphia-based Vitaband solves the problem once and for all: The rubber wristband includes a contactless Visa Prepaid debit chip. By setting up and preloading a Bancorp debit account connected to the Vitaband's chip, wearers can race into any 7-Eleven (or thousands of other merchants) to grab a Gatorade or PowerBar and pay for it by waving their wrists near the wireless payment reader. No need to fumble with sweat-soaked cash or deal with uncomfortable credit cards stuffed into running shorts.

The concept has other benefits; in addition to the debit card, Vitaband bracelets connect to a data file with the wearer's name and a personalized medical history. In the event of an accident, EMTs can call the toll-free number on the band to download the wearer's information.