cyclegraph

English

Etymology

Coined by Frank W. Gilbreth as cyle +‎ graph to highlight the repetitive and cyclical nature of the work processes he was photographing.

Noun

cyclegraph (plural cyclegraphs)

1. A photograph produced by attaching tiny lights to a moving person or object and using a long exposure to see the path of movement.
   • 1920 January, Walter Bannard, “Charting a Champion”, in Popular Science, volume 96, number 1:

     But this cyclegraph of Barnes, made by Frank B. Gilbreth for Walter Camp and Golf Illustrated, disproves the maxim utterly.

   • 2018, Lakhwinder Pal Singh, Work Study and Ergonomics, page 44:

     A cyclegraph is able to show all three aspects, i.e. workers, workplace layout and the path of movements; however, if fails to indicate about the direction and speed of movement.

   • 2020, Florian Hoof, Angels of Efficiency: A Media History of Consulting, page 158:

     The cyclegraph first created the problem of inefficiency by recording it and making it visible.

Derived terms

• chronocyclegraph