Chronocyclegraphs
From Alexis Madrigal’s wonderful daily newsletter, “5 Intriguing Things” (#69):
Chronocyclegraphs were a technique used by early 20th century efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth to assess the motions of workers. They attached bulbs to people’s hands and took long exposures. This is a surgeon sewing.
“The motion study method of attack considers the work to be done as a demand for certain motions, and the proposed worker as a supply of certain motions…
By the use of the scientific method of analysis, measurement and synthesis we arrive at the method of least waste for performing the work. Through special teaching devices we then transfer the selected elements of skill and experience, in a new synthesized cycle of least waste, to workers who have never had that all around, non-guided experience or its slowly acquired skill. Not only are the methods transferred more efficiently but there is saving of time and effort to both teacher and learner, as is satisfactorily shown by learning curves of many past performances on widely varied types of work.”
See also: Picasso drawing with light.
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