Also known as solid freeform fabrication, automated fabrication, layered manufacturing, and other terms; consists of a range of technologies that are capable of taking computer-aided design (CAD) models and converting these to a physical form or part. This process is automatic, generally independent of the model geometry, and does not require special tooling or fixtures. Complex three-dimensional contours are quantized in the form of stacks of two-dimensional, finite thickness layers or cross sections.
to develop an actual physical archetype of a product to some scale. The prototype is used for testing in order to visualize and evaluate the performance of the product and to make recommendations for improvement prior to the final design. Prototyping is used in the preparation of illustrative examples (See Modeling and Illustrative Examples).
Using software tools to accelerate the software development process by facilitating the identification of required functionality during analysis and design phases. A limitation of this technique is the identification of system or software problems and hazards. See: rapid prototyping.
An essential tool for both innovation and design as it helps to visualise novel concepts that, by their nature, may be difficult to communicate otherwise.
Technique used to build quickly a functional model of an application and to test the application.
the rapid development and testing of prototypes of new information system applications in an interactive, iterative process, involving both systems analysts and end users
A process in which partial versions of a program are created to aid in designing the final product.
The act of creating a prototype, such as an original type, form, or instance, that serves as a working model on which later stages are based or judged.
The creation of a working model of a new computer system or program for testing and refinement.
Evaluating requirements or designs at the conceptualization phase, the requirements analysis phase, or design phase by quickly building scaled-down components of the intended system to obtain rapid feedback of analysis and design decisions.
(n or v) A term used to describe the process by which physical mockups are made of proposed designs. Increasingly, prototyping is done using the databases associated with 3-D computer models. Because of the speed and efficiency, this technique is often referred to as rapid prototyping.
Modeling current work practices (admitting a student, registering a student) in PeopleSoft to meet the University's business needs.
A method for determining the user's requirements. A quick and dirty product, created specifically to test ideas out and get feedback quickly, used to refine requirements and then be discarded.
is an element of new product introduction, which involves building initial quantities, in short production runs, of an electronic product for testing, as well as for design validation and manufacturability refinement. The prototyping process involves nearly all aspects of a product prior to volume production and can significantly streamline the design and product development process, while substantially reducing costs.
The construction of a partial system to demonstrate some aspect or aspects of the intended system behavior in order to gain user acceptance or to establish technical feasibility.
Prototyping consists of making one single part for tests and design research before starting expensive mass production.
The development of a model that displays the appearance and behavior (look and feel) of an application to be built. A prototype may only demonstrate the application's appearance. It may also demonstrate navigation and user controls, or it may even accept input data that can be stored in and retrieved from a simulated database. (See also iterative development .)
An iterative approach to design in which a series of mock-ups or models are developed until the customer and the designer come to agreement as to the final design.
Prototyping is the process of quickly putting together a working model (a prototype) in order to test various aspects of a design, illustrate ideas or features and gather early user feedback. Prototyping is often treated as an integral part of the system design process, where it is believed to reduce project risk and cost. Often one or more prototypes are made in a process of incremental development where each prototype is influenced by the performance of previous designs, in this way problems or deficiencies in design can be corrected.