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What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

gianlucagimini.it

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Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#11

Post by lev99 »

There seems to be two things tested in this exercise. Technical drawing capabilities and knowledge of bicycle mechanics.

I assume most people that drew bicycles have ridden one, but there are a few basic common mistakes. The location of the pedals (closer to rear wheel, very near to floor), the way the chain operate, and the triangle frame are some examples. I did not notice anyone drawing details around the gear mechanisms nor the breaks. Many people demonstrated acceptable drawing technique while getting mechanical details of the bicycle incorrect.

I think this exercise highlights a great amount of ignorance around bicycles. I purpose society would benefit from better bicycle education. Better bicycle education might encourage bicycle adoption (needs testing to verify), and bicycle ridership improves climate change, obesity, traffic, and heart disease. In addition to increased adoption, bicycle education would improve bicycle safety.

Bicycle education as a semester long optional course in high school is a great reach goal. It could mirror driver education where teenagers learn traffic rules and laws, and also basic bicycle maintenance. Perhaps with enough active bicycle riding time it could count as a Physical Education credit.

A good first step would be more high quality videos and pamphlets on the topic of bicycle education.

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#12

Post by bena »

garrettgrimsley wrote: post #8
bena wrote: post #3

I had to go look up pictures of actual bikes to confirm what (I think) is wrong with the lead picture. I also wonder how I would have done in the blind.

For any still not seeing it: The chain stay from the bottom bracket is missing. The rear wheel should be held by a triangular arrangement of the frame, but the side of the triangle that runs parallel to the ground isn’t there

I didn't want to mention what I thought was wrong because I didn't want to accidentally influence anybody else, especially if I wound up wrong.

But yeah, after giving it a good, long look, along with his mention that it would break when someone sat on it, I guessed that there should have been a bar between the back wheel and where the pedals are.

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#13

Post by jschwartzi »

lev99 wrote: post #11

There seems to be two things tested in this exercise. Technical drawing capabilities and knowledge of bicycle mechanics. I assume most people that drew bicycles have ridden one, but there are a few basic common mistakes. The location of the pedals (closer to rear wheel, very near to floor), the way the chain operate, and the triangle frame are some examples. I did not notice anyone drawing details around the gear mec…

Ask people to draw the powertrain or running gear of a car and you'd get much the same result.

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#15

Post by huphtur »

userbinator wrote: post #9

It would be interesting to split the respondents into two groups, one who rides bikes regularly and one who doesn't, and compare the results. The "2WD" ones are particularly perplexing. On the other hand, I bet if you asked people to draw a car, 99% of them would draw something realistic --- it's the arrangement of the frame tubes on a bike that most people just haven't looked at in detail or remembered.

Pro cyclists asked to draw a bike in 15 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hXwbgio5cU

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#16

Post by jvagner »

To extend this a bit...

If you like watching any of the popular Gym Fail video channels on Youtube -- many people also have poor, or counter- intuitive notions of things like purpose built machines and the physical body mechanics/physics that marry up to them.

Recall is hard, but so is.. deciphering.

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#17

Post by logfromblammo »

I thought it was interesting how many of the wrong designs were similar to the lead image, with one central triangle and all other elements sprouting from it. It's tantalizingly close to the "standard" design, yet still incorrect.

I wonder how many of those people would insist that their sketch is correct, even when confronted with the evidence of an actual bicycle for comparison...

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#18

Post by duderific »

If you scroll down, the designer has produced images that match some of the ideas from the sketches. They are beautiful and mesmerizing.

At first I thought he had actually built out the physical bicycles from the sketches, but it turns out they are just computer renderings. Nonetheless it shows the power of "mistake" driven design, to generate novel ideas.

Re: What happens when you ask people to draw a bike (2016)

#19

Post by okmokmz »

I wonder why such a high percentage of females attached the chain the the front wheel in their drawings

edit: a better way to phrase it would probably be: Of the drawings where the chain was attached to the front wheel, I wonder why such a large majority were done by females

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