Rapid Prototype Blog

Posts Tagged ‘prototypes’

The prototype or model as a discovery tool

Getting from the “invention residing in your brain”, to an actual functioning product is called “reducing the invention to practice”, and almost invariably leads to the discovery of a number of problems with details that are not clearly evident when only residing in your mind.

Producing a model will help you find the best way to manufacture the device you have invented. It can be useful for all sorts of things like figuring out where to put labels, what the shipping weight will be, how to best package it, what it might cost to manufacture it, and to get feedback from test users. It’s a valuable tool for you to use.

An invention prototype can help you raise money

People just don’t have much imagination.  You are an inventor, and so you do have an imagination. Before you can invent something you have to have the idea…and it takes imagination to come up with great new ideas. Other people, you will find, simply do not have the imagination or vision that you do. Help them out.

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With a good invention prototype or model, your audience will not need to have an imagination.  It makes the invention “real” for them, adding tremendously to your credibility.  Having a good invention prototype will help sell the product even if it is not even in production yet. 

Prototype your invention before you file for a patent

DON’T put off prototype building until after you file your patent application. You will probably discover flaws or new features, or discover possible manufacturing problems.  With rare exception prototyping is very worthwhile. There are almost always unexpected discoveries from construction of invention models and prototypes.

Prototype for invention for testing purposes

Testing is very important.  A prototype allows you to actually test your invention in a meaningful way. You can test it with people other than yourself if appropriate, and you will probably discover that other people will have constructive criticisms and suggestions that could be very valuable.

By searching online you can find model and prototype building companies who can build it for you if you do not have the skills yourself.

Sure there are times when a prototype is not practical, if it is too expensive for example, but if it is at all possible, I highly recommend an invention prototype or model be produced.

from the press release Activision confirmed today that PROTOTYPE 2, the sequel to Radical Entertainment’s original best-selling game of 2009 — PROTOTYPE — is currently in development for 2012. PROTOTYPE 2′s first official trailer was revealed as a world premiere during this past weekend’s Spike TV Video Game Awards 2010 show, where fans of the shape-shifting open-world action franchise got their first glimpse into Sgt. James Heller, and why he is going to destroy PROTOTYPE’s original anti-hero,Alex Mercer. For those that missed it, head over to www.facebook.com/prototype to check out the trailer and be sure to become a fan. Gamers should also be on the lookout for the exclusive, in-depth first look preview of PROTOTYPE 2 in EGM magazine’s April 2011 issue. “When PROTOTYPE surpassed 2MM units we knew gamers would want a sequel to find out what happens next with Alex Mercer,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment. “The team here at Radical is sincerely grateful to the fans and we are laser focused on delivering an even bigger and better experience with PROTOTYPE 2!” PROTOTYPE 2 is currently in development for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and the Games for Windows . The game is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB, with an expected “M” (Mature — Content that may be suitable for persons 17 and older).”
Video Rating: 4 / 5

You are given 2 options:-

•GUI details should be included in SRS
•GUI details should not be included in SRS

Give your answer in the favor of any one view with valid reasons and arguments.

The answer should be concise and it should not exceed more than 1 page.

Celebration movie for 10 years online ordering of rapid prototypes at Materialise Available online : Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, Fused deposit Modeling, Polyjet

Sometimes we are questioned about why someone should do a prototype of an app or a website instead of already building it. It sounds like working twice, doing a wireframe and then doing the real project, but in fact it may save you time. When you go directly to your prototype, all the changes will be done be all the team: designer, programmer, copywriter, business analysts, everyone involved. If you prototype before involving everyone deeply in the project, you can save your team a lot of time and energy.

Using Justinmind Prototyper, the information architect can create the website structure and annotate it, the user interface can create the wireframe, the designer can make it have a look and feel and the programmer can make all interactions, movements and data show. All of them could be able to do their part using Prototyper, without much fuss and work. It’s drag and drop, and by learning some basic commands and tricks, even a no-programmer can create some advanced navigation interactions.

Dividing the wireframe work

It’s easier to collaborate when everyone uses the same software and the same interface. By sharing files, no-one will be working on old files, will loose requirements or comments, and everyone may be able to do what they’re best doing.

Using concurrent licensing, a company can have literally several people working on the same project all over the world, sharing, collaborating and creating a great product.

Joining the work together

After everything’s done, the project will be a single file. It may be presented to the client, the boss, or tested with final users, just like it was a real one. The changes, modifications and requirements can be directly added by users, using Justinmind Viewer tool, Automatically Generated HTML or Justinmind OnDemand service, and the team will have all them available with some clicks. So, all modification can be registered.

After approval

That’s when you generate your documentation, with instructions to everyone involved about project requirements, steps to follow and everything required to make things really work. It’s much easier to draft and change something on a prototype and only code the final version.

Next version

Besides all this process, Justinmind Prototyper’s requirements management also controls versioning, helping business analysts to know which version and which changes correspond to which piece of software.

If you want more information about high fidelity wireframes and website prototyping, subscribe to Justinmind’s blog feed or drop us a line on twitter.

The prototype or model as a discovery tool

Getting from the “invention residing in your brain”, to an actual functioning product is called “reducing the invention to practice”, and almost invariably leads to the discovery of a number of problems with details that are not clearly evident when only residing in your mind.

Producing a model will help you find the best way to manufacture the device you have invented. It can be useful for all sorts of things like figuring out where to put labels, what the shipping weight will be, how to best package it, what it might cost to manufacture it, and to get feedback from test users. It’s a valuable tool for you to use.

An invention prototype can help you raise money

People just don’t have much imagination.  You are an inventor, and so you do have an imagination. Before you can invent something you have to have the idea…and it takes imagination to come up with great new ideas. Other people, you will find, simply do not have the imagination or vision that you do. Help them out.

With a good invention prototype or model, your audience will not need to have an imagination.  It makes the invention “real” for them, adding tremendously to your credibility.  Having a good invention prototype will help sell the product even if it is not even in production yet. 

Prototype your invention before you file for a patent

DON’T put off prototype building until after you file your patent application. You will probably discover flaws or new features, or discover possible manufacturing problems.  With rare exception prototyping is very worthwhile. There are almost always unexpected discoveries from construction of invention models and prototypes.

Prototype for invention for testing purposes

Testing is very important.  A prototype allows you to actually test your invention in a meaningful way. You can test it with people other than yourself if appropriate, and you will probably discover that other people will have constructive criticisms and suggestions that could be very valuable.

By searching online you can find model and prototype building companies who can build it for you if you do not have the skills yourself.

Sure there are times when a prototype is not practical, if it is too expensive for example, but if it is at all possible, I highly recommend an invention prototype or model be produced.

Rapid Prototyping is a particularly popular process in the producing, design, and medical industries. It help users to develop fast prototypes and obtain correct feedback from their audience. The high requirement for rapid prototyping services can be ascribed to a number of factors. These services help in eliminating design failings at the conceptualization stage itself. There are a number of devices that aid in fast prototyping ; 3D Printers being one of them. Countless industry verticals require its services ; particularly those that are associated with design and development of products ; the car sector being the most outstanding of all. In our opinion, having the support of a reliable seller can be the source of a sustainable competitive advantage.

Come visit us right here for more Rapid Prototype Info and get two Prototyping Ebooks Patent Prototyping.
http://www.prototypezone.com/

If your seller can guarantee fast deliveries and supply innovative solutions to your problems then it will seriously scale back your time to market and help you churn newer versions of products with a quicker turn around time. Another advantage is in terms of the safety of intellectual property. Rapid manufacturing solutions tools like 3D printers ensure that your designs never leave the premises of your company and your intellectual property is protected. This industry is all set for exponential expansion in the times to come. However, what is becoming the most important obstacle to the expansion of this industry is the high value of prototyping machines.

This problem is probably going to be solved in the near future as requirement for prototyping services increase, leading to higher supply and thus lower MRP of the machines. Fast Prototyping is in high demand in medical, engineering, and industry. With PCs taking digital capabilities ; users can input two-dimensional drawings and obtain three-dimensional models of their ideas. The availability of precise image manipulation software’s has helped designers to simulate designs with an outstanding degree of accuracy through the use of vectors. Mathematically computed imagery helps in developing designs with a particularly low blunder margin of less than one millimeter. An example would illustrate this better.

Suppose a group of surgeons want to operate upon the cranium of a patient but have not decided upon the right surgical process to be used. Rapid prototyping proves really useful in such circumstances. By using a prototype of the cranium developed through a 3 dimensional printer ; surgeons can arrive at a tactic before operating on a patient. So, we see that rapid prototyping has the potential to become the backbone of the medical, design and manufacturing industries and is actually one of the gifts of the digital age to humankind.

Come visit us right here for more Rapid Prototype Info and get two Prototyping Ebooks Patent Prototyping.
http://www.prototypezone.com/

For those concerned in product development, engineering, and other form-giving applications, quick prototyping technology can offer an wonderful deliverable for various applications. Prototyping can be employed for idea generation, ergonomic testing, test fitting, functional testing and even small-batch production. There are a number of rapid prototyping technologies available for use including Fused Deposition Modeling ( FDM ), Stereolithography ( STL ), Selective Laser Sintering ( SLS ), and 3D Printing. Each of these technologies has benefits and disadvantages.

Come visit us right here for more Rapid Prototype Info and get two Prototyping Ebooks Rapid Prototypes.
http://www.prototypezone.com/

Fused Deposition Modeling technology is marketed commercially by Stratasys, which also holds a trademark on the term. Like most other RP processes FDM works on an “additive” principle by laying down material in layers. A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off the flow. The nozzle is heated to melt the material and can be moved in both horizontal and vertical directions by a numerically controlled mechanism, at once controlled by a computer-aided design software package. In an identical demeanour to stereolithography, the model is built up from layers as the material toughens straight after extrusion from the nozzle. Stereolithography is an additive fabrication process employing a vat of liquid UV-curable photopolymer “resin” and a UV laser to build parts a layer at a time.

On each layer, the laser beam traces a part cross-section pattern on the surface of the liquid resin. Exposure to the UV laser light cures, or, solidifies the pattern traced on the resin and adheres it to the layer below. Selective laser sintering is an additive quick producing strategy that uses a high power laser to fuse little particles of plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass powders into a mass representing a desired 3D object. The laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3D digital description of the part on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed. 3D printing is a unique form of prototype creation that has roots in standard fast printing technology. A 3 dimensional object is created by layering and connecting successive cross sections of material.

3D printers are often quicker, cheaper and simpler to use than other additive fabrication technologies. While prototyping dominates current uses, 3D printing offers amazing potential for retail consumer uses, particularly because the price of production is less than other techniques, and the part build time is low. In the most recent incarnations, 3D color printing is available. This indicates that a part can be made public to represent the colours of the completed product, to show label ideas or needs, or to indicate the results of stress research or other failure mode effects ( FME ) research. For the most part, all rapid prototype systems require a 3D computer model to start the process. Usually a big amount of file preparation must be undertaken to get a file to generate a correct rapid prototype model.

As an element of the innovation process, some corporations may employ one or several quick prototyping technologies in-house. However, being a new “cutting-edge” technology, many firms can make use of service offices to provide their quick prototyping as the requirement becomes evident. Most service bureaus have detailed internet sites to market and serve their customers. A handful of service firms are fairly enormous corporations with numerous workers and locations. Many provide related services and technologies, such as tooling, commercial design, molding and production.

However, service firms are usually tiny corporations, and while they may be little, a lot of them are vertically integrated and can supply services from idea models to finished functional parts. Service firms tend to concentrate on a number of areas such injection molding, casting, for example. Examine a company’s portfolio or case histories on their webpages, or discuss previous projects with the company to try to better understand areas of certain experience. Sculptors have also made use of the technology to supply complex shapes for fine humanities exhibitions. In the future, quick prototype technology will become more widespread and pervade even to the home.

For now, for timely and expert delivery, the use of a service bureau is the best way for most leading edge corporations, people and organizations.

Come visit us right here for more Rapid Prototype Info and get two Prototyping Ebooks Rapid Prototypes.
http://www.prototypezone.com/

Wireframes are good to show how the web will look like. Sitemaps are used to show the navigation structure.

But none of them show how a website works.

The main focus of a prototype is not the appearance of the website, but content, structure and functionality. Back in the 90’s, HTML didn’t allow for much more than visual presentation of text and static images with links. Nowadays, there are plenty of sites that work as software, interacting, changing behaviour and content according to user’s responses. This makes the working part of a website the most important thing to be focussed, discussed and planned.

So, before building any software or website that’s more complex than a printed leaflet, you should build a prototype of it to understand how it’s going to work, and plan ahead how you’re going to build it.

Structure is basically naming and organizing elements of the pages, such as links and categories. It also involves the basic sizes and shapes of objects, but not in a way that hinders designers’ work. The low fidelity wireframes stand in this part of the project.

Categorization is normally done with card sorting and text files, but as projects get more and more complex, it’s becoming even more necessary to simulate them.

Content also is very important, and it is great to have clients approve it before seeing the visuals. Many people get obfuscated with logos, colours and shapes, and can only think about that when they were supposed to analyse the texts, the information and the story being told. If you present a black and white prototype, it’s easier to get everyone focused on what’s written, and after that pass on to the design.

Functionality is very important, and cannot be visualized with old paper wireframes, or plain mockups. With rich interaction, you can simulate clicks, filling forms, voting, wrong passwords, and most of the experiences a user have with real websites. That way, it’s possible to prevent mistakes such as asking too much information in your login forms, or users being unable to click on determined objects when they want to.

It is important to discuss and decide the technical functions before start coding, because most of software bugs come from changing plans along the coding stage. It also helps reduce production time, since the rewriting normally takes longer than coding once.