Sketchplanations - The Podcast Hitting the Target: Accuracy vs. Precision
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Mar 24, 2026 They use a four-target sketch to show how accuracy and precision differ. The conversation traces precision’s role in the industrial revolution and interchangeable parts. They compare McDonald’s repeatability with artisan cooking and discuss calibration, testing, and measurement limits. The talk also covers beliefs, culture’s turn to craft, and precision needs in medicine, AI, and weapon targeting.
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Calibrate Bias But Not Human Variability
- Calibration can correct accuracy but cannot reduce natural variation (precision) in the actor or process.
- Rob Bell and Jono use weighing scales and darts to show calibration fixes bias but not hand steadiness.
LED Tolerances In Product Manufacturing
- Tom describes testing LEDs for his face masks to ensure exact wavelengths and tight tolerances.
- Every LED is measured and sorted into bins by wavelength because 633nm works better than 630nm for results.
Design Hiring For Accuracy Or Repeatability
- When designing processes like recruitment, decide whether you want consistent repeatable outcomes or flexible judgment.
- Jono suggests evaluating recruitment for both accuracy (right hires) and precision (repeatable hires across runs).