Prototype - Testing the Idea
Have you ever wondered how the products you buy in the stores get on the shelves? The products start with a concept that is conceived by a development team. Once a concept has been fully developed, the product must go through a rigorous batch of testing that is dependent upon a prototype. A prototype is a fully functional first draft or working model of a final product. The prototype is used for extensive testing before a company orders the actual product. Due to the long timeline of testing, several prototypes can be produced before sending the final product for manufacturing and distribution.
Each company tests their prototypes differently than others. Some of the things they must take into consideration are the process of mass producing the product, defects in the design or performance, and how consumers might use it. There are also instances where the company utilizes beta testers, who provide criticisms and praises after they test the early stages of a product. Overall, few people have access to prototypes because they are not yet on the market and can be incredibly flawed.
As stated earlier, the development process of a concept is crucial to a successful prototype. A company can have their own engineers and designers work on the features or receive the help of contractors and consultants. The development team has the power to give the green light and launch the creation of the prototype. Once the first single prototype is complete, it is highly evaluated for effectiveness. In many instances, the following prototypes will be different versions of the base concept - incorporating diverse features, design, functions, and more.
When the prototype is deemed a success, it can be used as the representation for large-scale production. It is usually dissected in order for each piece to be documented and copied. After it is fully produced, the company can test run the final product in various markets to see consumers' response. This allows them to have a better understanding of how many products to produce and where to distribute them.
The idea of the prototype was introduced back in the 1600s - predating the Industrial Age. People were already referring early-stage products as prototypes and it was at this time that the prototype became a guideline, or standard, of comparison for the products to come. Protos is Greek for "first" and typos is Greek for "impression", thus the invention of the word prototype is quite fitting.
Random fact: In the 1600s, the word "prototype" was used often for the first printing draft from a printing press. They would use that impression to decide if the settings and the ink were correct and ready for mass production.
Companies realize that prototypes are raw, slow, and can be exceedingly difficult to work with in the beginning. They are the first form of a concept and can take a long time to fully develop into something functional and ready for production. Companies work hard to keep prototypes behind closed doors in order to minimize negative publicity to reviewers and the general public. This can get frustrating, especially now that many concepts are leaked on the Internet. However, the development and testing of a product is well worth the benefits of a successfully mass-produced product.
