Seventh Lecture: Prototype

What is Prototype?

A prototype is an object or sample built before produced to test the product's concept, usage and process. Prototype aid designer to test and manipulate their product before going to the end users. Prototype work as the initial step before making or produce the product, just like built a car, the engineer will create a small prototype to test their concept and design of the product works or not, it is effective way to test idea. Prototype prevent the failure of product when it is produced in industries. Usually prototype start from sketching design, which is paper-based outline of a screen or sets of screen. After that, it will be transfer into electronic picture. Then, it will be make a 3 dimensional paper or cardboard mock up. Lastly, it will allows stakeholders to interact with the envisioned product, gain experience in realistic setting and explore. If the prototype isn't fulfill the user's need, then the design process can be easily redo.

Fidelity Prototype
There is two types of prototype in prototyping, which is low fidelity prototype and high fidelity prototype. They are not the same but work as same purpose.

Low Fidelity Prototype
Low fidelity prototype is the one that look does not same very much like the final product. The prototype is just a very basic and simple idea and concept, it still doesn't meet the final ideas yet. And it caused the process is lower development cost. Usually, low fidelity prototype created in paper, card board or etc rather than electronic screen and metal. It tend to be simple, cheap and quick to produce. It doesn't waste much time to produce. It also support the exploration of alternative designs and ideas. Low fidelity is only a cenceptual design that will never to be use on final product. They are just for exploration and ideation stage. Usually, people use storyboard as a low fidelity prototype too. It is easy to evaluate multiple design concepts, identifying market requirements and proof of concept. But, low fidelity protoype had limited error checking, usefulness for usability test and utility after requirement established.

High Fidelity Prototype

High fidelity prototype is different than low fidelity prototype that it is expected to be almost or look much like the final product. All the material used on this prototype must be expected to be same for the final product. Example, prototype on software system developed in visual basic and paper-based mock up. Some people may also use metal or others material that closed to their final product's idea to create High fidelity prototype. It is completely functionality and fully interactive. But high fidelity prototyping is much harder than low fidelity prototyping. This is because it takes money and time to build. After that, if the prototype doesn't fulfill needed, they need to change something that they have crafted for hours. Sometimes, the software prototype makes the reviewer's expectation to high. Even just one bug, it would failed the whole high fidelity prototype. Even though it has more disadvantages, but it is useful for selling ideas and for testing out technical issues. It clearly defines navigational scheme, and it let use for exploration and test. It looks and feel much like the final product.

By, Yee Kuang Hooi, 

Hiccarus Lesselion, 1102702258.