What does prototype mean in simple words? (2023)

What is a prototype for kids?

A "prototype" is a simple model that lets you test out your idea! Try building your own prototype, and then share what you made.

Using basic sketches and rough materials, the prototype may be a simple drawing or rough model that helps innovators determine what they need to improve and fix in their design. For example, engineers may complete a working model prototype to test a product before it is approved for manufacturing.

A prototype is a functional, not final version of a product or service that businesses can use for testing, to solicit feedback, and to introduce to investors before officially launching to a wider market.

The word prototype comes from the Latin words proto, meaning original, and typus, meaning form or model. In a non-technical context, a prototype is an especially representative example of a given category.

Some of the examples of prototypes are wireframes, slides, landing pages, working models, an interactive frontend, and videos.

Prototyping means creating a model or illustration of a proposed solution for the purpose of testing with the intended users or beneficiaries of that solution. Creating prototypes helps you test ideas and evaluate how your ideas are changing over time.

The most important advantage of a prototype is that it simulates the real and future product. It can help attract customers to invest in the product before allocating any resources needed for implementation. You can test the design's correctness before it comes into production and you can discover design errors.

A prototype is a simple experimental model of a proposed solution used to test or validate ideas, design assumptions and other aspects of its conceptualisation quickly and cheaply, so that the designer/s involved can make appropriate refinements or possible changes in direction.

Rapid (Throwaway) prototyping. Evolutionary prototyping. Incremental prototyping. Extreme prototyping.

What is the opposite word of prototype?

The opposite of a prototype — or a blueprint, or a sketch, or a mock-up, or a model — is a finished product or production version.

He built a prototype of a machine called the wave rotor. He was the prototype of the elder statesman.

Prototypes are an advanced stage of the design process. Building on both wireframes and mockups, they are the closest thing to the final product, with clickable links and some functional interactive elements.

A prototype is an early-stage model that allows you to test the look, feel, function, and durability before manufacturing. A prototype can be anything from a simple 3D printed model, testing proof of concept, to a machined “looks like–works like” unit that allows you to de-risk your product.

A good prototype should show a clear representation of the actual product by presenting how it will either look or work. The more precise representation the prototype is of the actual product, the easier it will be for the users, investors and other stakeholders to understand the product.

As with mockups and models, prototypes are not a finished product. They share some of the same limitations. That is, they are rarely fully tested or debugged. Because the processes to create prototypes are not necessarily those of a finished product, quality may not be up to finished product standards.

A prototype is an early sample, model or release of a product created to test a concept or process. Typically, a prototype is used to evaluate a new design to improve the accuracy of analysts and system users. It is the step between the formalization and the evaluation of an idea.

There are several methods of industrial design prototyping: iterative, parallel, competitive, and rapid. These different methods of prototyping produce varying models of proof-of-concept during the product development process.

Real life analogy

In manufacturing, a prototype is a refined version of your product based on user feedback. For example, when developing a car, the manufacturer starts with a prototype— or model — that costs less and incorporates new technology.

What is the difference between prototype and prototyping?

A prototype is generally used to evaluate a new design to enhance precision by system analysts and users. Prototyping serves to provide specifications for a real, working system rather than a theoretical one.

Feedback. It's at this stage of concept development — after there's a successful prototype in-hand and before it heads to market — that is ideal for gathering feedback from principals such as stakeholders and executives.

Noun. prototype (plural prototypes)

Low-fidelity prototypes may include rough sketches, paper models, simple storyboards, or rough paper prototypes of digital interfaces. You would base your choice of the type of prototype on the type of solution you are seeking to create.

A prototype is an unfinished version of any product used for user testing. A prototype must incorporate all the features and functions of the final product but without the final design elements. Although it is unfinished, it should appear to the user as a finished product to garner honest feedback.

There are several methods of industrial design prototyping: iterative, parallel, competitive, and rapid. These different methods of prototyping produce varying models of proof-of-concept during the product development process.

A prototype is generally used to evaluate a new design to enhance precision by system analysts and users. Prototyping serves to provide specifications for a real, working system rather than a theoretical one.

A prototype is a representation of a design produced before the final solution exists. It allows you and potentially your future customers to understand the product. Prototype models are often used for photo shoots, trade shows and exhibitions, customer feedback, and design verification purposes.

Representation: A prototype is a rudimentary representation of the actual product. It represents how the product will look and/or work like. Precision: More precise the prototype, better the response and feedback. Functional: A good prototype performs the basic functions of the actual product (if possible).

How do you prototype an idea?