Quotes
“Simplicity is complexity resolved.”
– Constantin Brancusi
“Simplicity does not precede complexity but follows it.”
– Alan Perlis
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
– Arthur C. Clarke
Introduction
We need simplicity. Everywhere we look in life, the world is becoming increasingly complex. In nearly every sphere of human activity from Medicine to Politics, to Finance, to Education, we are bombarded with new information, theories, considerations, exceptions, and rules. This complexity is at best confusing and at worst alarming. One of the priorities at the core of the health and wellness field is for people to achieve and maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being. To do that, some of what we need is clarity and understanding. When you can’t “see the forest from the trees”, you are distracted from understanding the big picture and get overloaded with minutiae.
When we assessed the weight management technology marketplace, we made some interesting observations:
- What Does It All Mean? – Weight management technology needs to accurately predict weight change.
- Information Overload – Weight management technology should have primary focus on calories. Other details can be helpful, but are secondary.
- Spaghetti City – Weight management technology should be intuitive and easy to navigate.
- It’s All so “Extra” – Weight management technology should maximize value and minimize screen time commitment.
It is time for a change. The age of complexity in weight management technology is over. The Difference provides an elegant, efficient, and intuitive solution to these problems and culminates in a seemingly magical prediction about your weight.
Discussion
We promote simplicity as a core value at The Difference. It is not just part of our slogan which is “Weight Management. Simplified.” Simplicity is a pillar of every aspect of our company. It is reflected in the user experience (UX) of our product, our user interface (UI), our marketing and messaging, our customer relations, and in every decision and action that Our Team makes.
Background
When we first set out to create The Difference, we did some research into weight management and found that the main factors that impact weight change are diet and exercise. Simple, right? But the experts also discussed metabolism, age, gender, genetics, medication, ethnicity, diet, hydration, etc. So, we decided to ask a question: “Can weight change be accurately predicted by a simple calculation of calories in minus calories out?”. To answer the question, we reframed the question as a hypothesis and used the scientific method.
To begin testing, we first built a rudimentary model to record a Food Journal, Base Burn rate, and Activity Log. The Food Journal lists what has been eaten and drunk every day and how many calories are associated with each item. The Base Burn rate is our best estimate of the average amount of calories burned during periods of inactivity (i.e., sleeping and sitting at a desk). The Activity Log reflects the specific types of physical exertion and the number of calories burned during those periods – this includes walking or exercise at the gym and even housework or gardening.
Testing and Results
Once we built the model, we tested it on our first client over two months. Each day, we would take the difference between “Total Calories In” from the Food Journal and “Total Calories Out”, the sum of Base Burn and the Activity Log. We called this “The Difference”, not knowing that this would eventually become the name of our company.
At the end of the two months, our trial client lost over 60 pounds, and reached their target weight goal, and we discovered that every time “The Difference” was significantly negative, our client’s actual weight dropped in the next 1-2 days. Thus, the results proved the hypothesis true or validated it. This is another way of saying the concept we devised “had value.” With that proof, we wanted to share the discovery with the widest audience as possible and set about creating a company to do so. Our Mission Statement reflects this: ‘The Difference aims to make lasting improvements in the health and wellness of our clients and communities with predictive, intuitive, and affordable weight management technology.’
Marketplace
When we say “Intuitive” in our Mission Statement, this captures the company’s expression of simplicity. If you’re really focused on a weight management goal, we strongly assert that you must focus on your overall balance of calories. All the other factors that affect weight play second fiddle to calories, and spending time analyzing them, or paying for technology that does so, is not only distracting but can also be confusing and often costly.
When we assessed the weight management technology marketplace, we made some interesting observations:
What Does It All Mean?
At the end of the day, if you have a weight management goal, an App should be able to offer a fair estimate of the progress you made towards that goal. We did not find a single product that provided this conclusive information. We offer our clients a crystal ball prediction of their daily estimated weight change.
Information Overload
Some Apps incorporate a lot of inputs beyond the basics. However, this can distract from the “In minus Out” calorie equation which is at the core of weight management. Some Apps require water and sleep measurements. But water has zero calories, so on average, this is a neutral factor. Sleep is important to health, but it has little impact on weight change. Other Apps provide detailed nutrient information. This can be helpful to know if you are doing a detailed analysis of your nutrition. However, calories are the main determinant of weight change, not the relative nutritional value of different foods. To learn more about this concept, read “Food as Fuel: Could It All Be So Simple?“
Spaghetti City
Some Apps have tons of screens. However, like an overly confusing street layout, users can sometimes find it difficult to navigate. We designed every single screen of our user interface for ease of use. Clients progress through their input of information in a smooth, orderly fashion. Our home screen automatically updates with each new entry to inform users, in real-time, what The Difference in calories is for the day and the impact on their weight.
It’s All so “Extra”
Having a ton of features to consider can seem really appealing. So much so that before you know it, you are spending an inordinate amount of time on your phone interacting with the App. But the increase in screen time is a known and growing problem. We seek to minimize the amount of time and effort that a client commits to our product while, at the same time, maximizing the value obtained.
Conclusion
It is time for a change. Referring to the quotes at the beginning of this article, the age of complexity in weight management technology is over. The Difference provides an elegant, efficient, and intuitive solution that culminates in a seemingly magical prediction about your weight.
If you have a weight management goal, we invite you to simplify your life and use The Difference. Please email us at Info@TheDifferenceApp.com for more information, or join our mailing list.