A walk around Green Lake can earn you prizes now that the Orbiter Seattle system has been installed to keep track of people's exercise habits.

Participants purchase an Orbiter Seattle tag from Tim's Concessions, near the boat rental and Green Lake Community Center. The tag serves as an electronic lap counter. Three Start/Stop Radio-Frequency Identification stations have been mounted around the 2.8-mile lake. They are located at the Boat Rental Center, Bath House and the Rowing Center.

As people pass with a sensor tag in their pocket or pinned to their clothing, a confirmation light and buzzer confirms the times have been recorded.

A Rewards Display, in the form of a computer monitor can be found next to Tim's Concessions, next to the Green Lake Community Center.

Results can also be checked online with a password on the sensor tag's package.

"The whole point is to encourage people to get exercise and be rewarded for it. It pays you to do that," said Greg Stewart, inventor of the Orbiter.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation has authorized Stewart's invention as an experiment to see how it is received by the public.

Charles Ng, the manager of Magnuson Park and the business resource for parks and recreation for Seattle Parks and Recreation said the city is supporting the system and feel it is a good thing for citizens.

Ng said the Orbiter Seattle system is consistent with the department's goals of health and fitness.

With over a million visitors annually, Green Lake is the second busiest park in the nation behind New York's Central Park.

"It is centrally located. It's a beautiful lake with lots of activity. We hope it takes off," said Ng.

The department wants Orbiter Seattle to generate income, a percent of the profits from sales of the electronic tags will go to the city.

Each lap counter has a number and individual results are anonymous.

"Instead of a name, people can use it without people knowing who you are," said Stewart.

Stewart said people can compete against one another by walking or running around the lake at different times of the day and comparing their results. This can be done online.

The screen tells them what their time is around Green Lake and how walks they have completed that week or month. It also tracks reward points.

The top five people in monthly distance can win a 30 day Metro bus pass, 10 gallons of gas, or Carbon Credit donation or $40 for dinner at a select restaurant.

Other rewards include passes to: The Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Experience Music Project, resort trips, specialty items, and snacks from Green Lake concession stands.

Ng says if successful at Green Lake, the program can be expanded other popular parks like Alki beach or Seward Park.

Stewart's Orbiter system has been in use at Vancouver B.C.'s Grouse Mountain with 30,000 tags purchased by skiers keeping track of their run times.

The first 200 Orbiter tags are for sale at $25. The regular price is $60.

Visit http://www.seattleorbiter.com for details.

Dean Wong may be contacted at deanw@robinsonnews.com or 783.1244.