{"id":1799,"date":"2013-08-07T07:39:56","date_gmt":"2013-08-07T11:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/?p=1799"},"modified":"2013-08-07T07:39:56","modified_gmt":"2013-08-07T11:39:56","slug":"what-is-a-prototype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/2013\/08\/07\/what-is-a-prototype\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Prototype?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A prototype is simply a model that is used to demonstrate the qualities of a future part, product, process, or service. \u00a0A prototype can be anything that demonstrates how your idea works and what it will look like. \u00a0The term prototype itself is used pretty loosely and is applied to ideas under development along the way to becoming a product or service on the market. \u00a0At the AMC we break prototypes down into 3 major categories with 4 different types.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three Categories of Prototypes<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cLooks Like\u201d<\/strong> Prototypes\n
      \n
    1. These prototypes are used to demonstrate ideas that need development in color, shape, feel, and size. \u00a0Many Rapid Prototype or 3D Printed parts fall under this category.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    2. \u201cWorks Like\u201d<\/strong> Prototypes\n
        \n
      1. Often referred to as \u201cProof of concepts\u201d, these are examples that prove the working concepts of an idea. They may not be very pretty, but they will prove that an idea works. \u00a0Proof of concepts may have several issues to be sorted out, but they will verify the primary concepts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
      2. \u201cLooks Like and Works Like\u201d<\/strong> Prototypes\n
          \n
        1. These \u201cLate Stage\u201d Prototypes are a refined iteration of an idea. They are well investigated, often attractive, and have very few kinks to sort out. They may even be a reasonable representation of what an idea looks like before it goes to market. \u00a0Late stage prototypes usually are designed after an early stage prototype has been developed and tested.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Four Types of Prototypes<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Paper<\/strong> – Paper prototypes are very common. \u00a0Most people don\u2019t even know that when they define their ideas on paper, and pencil in \u201crough numbers,\u201d they have in effect created a prototype. \u00a0Paper prototypes are most often used to define Service Ideas. \u00a0They are also common to engineering and other technical concepts where mathematical models are very important to early stage development. \u00a0There are two basic kinds of paper prototypes. \u00a0Often they are combined to form an entire concept.\n
              \n
            1. WORD<\/strong> prototypes explain exactly how an idea works and defines all of the ideas and parts. \u00a0they define the Who, What, When, Where, and Why\u2019s that are necessary for your idea to work.<\/li>\n
            2. MATH<\/strong> prototypes define with numbers how your idea works. \u00a0The math includes financial models, technical models, spatial models, and anything that involves numbers in your idea.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
            3. Part<\/strong> – Part prototypes are an individual item that demonstrates the important functional qualities of your idea. \u00a0A part prototype could be a component that improved performance on a thing that already exists by reducing weight or making operation easier or safer. \u00a0it could also be a completely new and novel kind of hand tool. \u00a0A part prototype is always a physical object.<\/li>\n
            4. Assembly<\/strong> – Assembly prototypes are a combination of parts that work together to realize an idea. \u00a0Assembly prototypes can be very simple, with just two parts fastened together, or very complex with hundreds of thousands of components and sub-assemblies, many of which might even move.<\/li>\n
            5. Process<\/strong> – Process prototypes physically demonstrate the actions required to accomplish an end result. \u00a0A process prototype might be a new business model or sales model. \u00a0It might also be a cutting edge approach to create new kinds of fuels that reduce emissions or take advantage of biomass.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Prototypes are defined by what category and type they fall under. \u00a0For example you can have a \u201cLooks like\u201d assembly prototype that is a scaled down 3D printed object that will help you visualize a future product. \u00a0A \u201cworks like\u201d paper prototype could be a math model of the physics of a new type of engine.<\/p>\n

              \u00a0Check out a prototype developed at the AMC<\/strong><\/p>\n

              NeuroCheck<\/strong> –\u00a0O\u2019Brien Medical partnered with The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) and the AMC to develop a modern testing device for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or damaged or deteriorating nerves in the feet of diabetics. \u00a0The condition all too often can lead to foot ulcers and eventual foot amputation. \u00a0The current practice of using tuning forks is subjective leaves too much room for human error. \u00a0This device will eliminate the guesswork, and produce consistent results from user to user.<\/p>\n

              \"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

              Working with the AMC, O’Brien medical was able to develop a completely customized solution that met their vision for the product. \u00a0the AMC developed, designed, and manufactured custom electronics, actuators, and stainless housing for this medical instrument. \u00a0O’Brien Medical was able to conduct clinical trials to further develop the idea.<\/p>\n

              The AMC team has years of experience in all manner of Prototype development. \u00a0We help inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses transform their thoughts into real data, parts, and systems they can use to advance. Email us at amc@maine.edu<\/a> for advice related to this article or if you have questions that you\u2019d like to see answered in our next blog post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              A prototype is simply a model that is used to demonstrate the qualities of a future part, product, process, or service. \u00a0A prototype can be anything that demonstrates how your idea works and what it will look like. \u00a0The term prototype itself is used pretty loosely and is applied to ideas under development along the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":267,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","spc_primary_category":0},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-questions-and-answers-from-the-amc"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":3,"label":"Ask the AMC"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/author\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Ask the AMC","slug":"questions-and-answers-from-the-amc","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The AMC answers questions about all things relating to inventing, prototyping, manufacturing, product development, and process development.","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":3,"category_count":6,"category_description":"The AMC answers questions about all things relating to inventing, prototyping, manufacturing, product development, and process development.","cat_name":"Ask the AMC","category_nicename":"questions-and-answers-from-the-amc","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1799\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/amc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}