Prototyping is the evolution of a mannequin that symbolizes a system. It is an iterative procedure that, is part of the research phase of the systems development life cycle. A prototype developed can then eventually be augmented into a tangible final working product. For example, there was a comparative study published in The International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants where they were to come up with prototypes to improve the accuracy of placing dental implants through the use of stereo lithographic surgical guides. I was puzzled by the fact that prototyping makes it possible to accumulate information on topics bearing on current methods and factor in all the different ways it can be improved through user interviews and information aggregation. They set out to try out the prototype before revealing it to the market, and the end effect is a well-functioning finished product, right for the consumer. It augments intangible processes and ideas into real working models. For this article, it helped compare between the traditional regimental procedures of surgical operating theatre to the prototype which proposed a more advanced mode of transmitting the same (DP, P & N, 2002). Prototyping would ultimately aid in concentrating the development time and monetary values. Lets the users get involved, and the developers get quantifiable user feedback thus can improve on the prototype to meet its specifications. The intention of the prototype of the study was to build surgical guides that would assist in the improvement of precise implant placements. The results were very compelling since it was found that in the long run it will relieve the clinicians from multiple preoperative decisions thus an advance in implant placements. And the good thing is that it envisages digital methods to create a physical example.
Reference
DP, S., P, S., & N, C. (2002). Accuracy of implant placement with a stereolithographic surgical guide. The International Journal Of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 18 (4), 571-577. Retrieved from http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12939011
