What is digital prototyping?
Digital prototyping is a process designed by a new product and the prototype is created digitally rather than physically. This prototype is usually created in a computer program that is able to perform simulations using the real world parameters to stress the product, evaluate its physical mechanisms, and perform other tests that are performed on the physical prototype. The use of such software can reduce initial costs for the company, as new digital prototypes can often be produced or edited cheaper and easily than physical. Digital prototyping can be incorporated into each stage of product development, from concept to marketing.
The use of a digital prototype has evolved along with advances in computer technology. The software is easily accessible to many companies that allow such companies to create digital prototypes rather than physical. These prototypes can be as detailed as the physical prototypes and include hundreds of partsin a virtual environment. This allows testing prototypes to the durability of stress, usability and other general parameters that would be tested on the physical prototype. The digital nature of such prototypes can facilitate change or adjustment. This allows digital prototyping to have a faster turnover time in changes such as color or material changes.
Digital prototype can usually be created faster than physical prototype, and digital image can be exported to a file that is easier to view by other employees without technical background in the prototype. As a result, digital prototypes are not only more efficient for many companies, but also allow the created images to be used in market research and development.
Digital prototyping often begins in the first phase of development. Conceptual designs can be imported into digital prototype software and used as a reference during the development process.Once a digital prototype is created, it can then be used to develop a real product and even to simulate what type of production process may be needed to create a product. Digital prototype rendering can be used for product and marketing customer testing. Digital prototyping can create a photorealistic rendering of an item that can be used to create an ad for this product, without taking pictures or even the existence of a physical product.