Google Maps calorie counts. Thoughts?

Alatariel75

http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/an-experimental-feature-on-google-maps-has-turned-into-a-raging-online-debate/news-story/e400d323821fa58026dfc941cbd87dfc

So I just read this. Google Maps rolled out, then rolled back, a feature which told you approximately how many calories you would burn on any given walk you mapped out. It also told you how many "mini cupcakes" that equated to.

Backlash was fierce - many said it was triggering and judgy, especially as it was not optional and couldn't be turned off.

Others are pissed that it was scrapped after the backlash and say it should have gone further and allowed you to input your stats for greater accuracy.

What does MFP think?

NorthCascades

I can't really believe that giving people accurate information is harmful. In this context, I mean, we're not talking about launch codes here.

Alatariel75

I get the point about the cupcake comparison. If it was just the data "the average person would burn X calories on this walk", whatever, but I do see the issue with the "That's X mini cupcakes!". Not everyone wants or needs that kind of data. Hell, I turn off the MFP insights in my diary because they irk me, I don't want Google Maps doing it when I try and walk out how to walk to the nearest corner store in an area I don't know.

Really though, my only issue is that it was not able to be opted out of (or into).

NorthCascades

I don't see what's wrong with being told how many mini cupcakes it is. Data like that tends to turn me off of mini cupcakes. If someone tells me I have to walk 3 miles to earn 1 cupcake, I say "wow, that's not worth it." (My weakness is savory not sweet, but the point holds.)

Speaking of making it configurable, it's a shame that a few offended people got this taken away from everybody.

janejellyroll

I would love to see the calorie information if I was able to enter basic stats (like my weight) to make it more accurate. I also think the mini cupcake unit of measure is pretty dumb -- I'd either like to see straight calories or be able to choose from an option of food items for my measurement (like french fries or a medium latte or a beer, things I actually eat).

I do think if they bring it back, people should have the option to turn it off. Not everyone wants to see that information.

jjpptt2

I think it would be a great feature to add, especially with ability to hide/show the information based on end user preference.

Unfortunately, change is hard. The masses have no idea how many calories they eat or how many calories they need, never mind the difference between the 2 and the impact that has. When they are presented with this information, they resist, and helpful features get hidden and buried because they are "judgy and shameful". I wonder if those same people protest restaurants putting calorie information on their menus...

EatingAndKnitting

I would have loved that when I was using my android. I couldn't even figure out how to map out a walk on the app though, and have no idea how to do it on the iPhone either (haven't tried). Especially if I could set it to know my weight and get a better estimate based on how heavy I am!

Making it optional would have been better than rolling it back.

NorthCascades

janejellyroll wrote: »

I do think if they bring it back, people should have the option to turn it off. Not everyone wants to see that information.

I make my living as a software developer. That's more involved than you probably think.

Making the ability to turn this on and off and enter your stats and what food you want the calories in means the whole feature goes back to the product manager to make decisions like should it remember what you entered last time and all the other details. Somebody has to compile a list of food choices and their calories. Then the graphic designer has to come up with a UI for how you do all that. Then the developers implement what they're told, and it goes to test, who file bugs, which are fixed, and then it goes to test...

I think it's reasonable for a beta feature not to be polished like that.

janejellyroll

NorthCascades wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

I do think if they bring it back, people should have the option to turn it off. Not everyone wants to see that information.

I make my living as a software developer. That's more involved than you probably think.

Making the ability to turn this on and off and enter your stats and what food you want the calories in means the whole feature goes back to the product manager to make decisions like should it remember what you entered last time and all the other details. Somebody has to compile a list of food choices and their calories. Then the graphic designer has to come up with a UI for how you do all that. Then the developers implement what they're told, and it goes to test, who file bugs, which are fixed, and then it goes to test...

I think it's reasonable for a beta feature not to be polished like that.

Oh, I work with software implementation and I understand it's not as simple as I may have made it sound. I realize there would be some work involved, but it is Google we're talking about, I think they could manage the resources to at least make it opt-in/opt-out.