On Mar 2, 2009, at 5:24 AM, Andrew Boyd wrote:
to me, if it is a representation of a concept used for communication purposes, then it's a prototype.
While I hold a fairly liberal definition of a prototype, it's not that liberal. I define a prototype as a representative simulation of a final system that shows changes in states of that system. In other words, while a single static element cannot be a prototype, a series of them that represent the changes in state of a system (e.g. begin point and end point) can be a prototype.
So, to me, a sketch isn't a prototype. A series of sketches, however, that shows a beginning state and some transition to another state can be used as a prototype. Same thing with wireframes. I don't consider a wireframe a prototype, but if you give me a few of them that I can use to show changes in the state of a system, then I can use it as a prototype.
When you talk physical devices, that changes a bit. A wood or foam block can be a prototype. It's not pixel perfect or painted exactly like the final product, but it can represent and simulate the interaction with the product or system the way the final piece does.
The first prototype of a Palm pilot was a block of wood. IDEOs prototypes of the Microsoft mouse were foam. Both static, yet an interactive representation of the final system.
Cheers! Todd Zaki Warfel President, Design Researcher Messagefirst | Designing Information. Beautifully. ---------------------------------- Contact Info Voice: (215) 825-7423 Email: [email protected] AIM: [email protected] Blog: http://toddwarfel.com Twitter: zakiwarfel ---------------------------------- In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not. ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
