A sensing apparatus for measuring at least one health and fitness parameter includes at least one sensor for detecting at least one health and fitness parameter and outputting a signal representative of the parameter. The sensing apparatus includes a memory for storing data and computer instructions and a communication component configured to transmit data representative of a value associated with the at least one health and fitness parameter. A processor of the sensing apparatus communicates with the at least one sensor, the memory and the communication component. The processor receives output signals from said at least one sensor, calculates at least one health and fitness parameter based on computer instructions stored in the memory. The parameter is formatted in a human interface device (HID) compliant protocol, and provided to the communication component, which transmits the at least one HID compliant health and fitness parameter value to a remote processing device.