Conceptual Understanding: Designers use physical models to visualize information about the context that the model represents. It is very common for physical models of large objects to be scaled down and smaller objects scaled up for ease of visualisation. The primary goal of physical modelling is to test aspects of a product against user requirements.
Thorough testing at the design development stage ensures that an appropriate product is developed.
Physical modelling not only allows designers to explore and test their ideas, but to also present them to others. Engaging clients, focus groups and experts to interact with physical models of products allows designers to gain valuable feedback that enables them to improve the design and product-user interface.
What is Physical modelling?
A physical model is a three-dimensional, tangible representation of a design or a system. ‘Appearance Model’
The creation of a smaller or larger tangible version of an object that can be physically interacted with.
Advantages:
-They allow the user to visualize the product and identifying any problems with the product easily.
-The user can understand how the product would look in a real environment.
Disadvantages:
-It can be a time consuming process to create the physical model.
-It can’t be manipulated the same way a digital model can be.
Scale models
IB DP project shouldn't be scaled down. True evaluation needs usability included which requires a 1:1 model.
A model that is either a smaller or larger physical copy of an object.
Scale models allow visualization, from examining the model, of information about what the model represents. A scale is usually represented e.g. 1:100 (100 times smaller)
A good example of scale models is seen in architecture, whereby a full-size building is modelled at a greatly reduced scale. This enables designers to visualize the structure of the building, but also the exterior and interior aesthetics and lines.
Advantages:
-The model can be overviewed easily, especially if the original design is exceptionally large.
-As it is scaled, it gives an idea of how large the model will be when it is actually produced/built.
Disadvantages:
-Can be time consuming to create a perfectly scale model.
-Apart from providing the user with visual information about the product, it is hard to manipulate it to show how it works.
Aesthetic models
A model developed to look and feel like the final product.
They are used for many purposes including ergonomic testing and evaluating visual appeal. Aesthetic models look like but do not work like the final product. Aesthetic models can be relatively simple, consisting of solid chunks of foam finished and painted to look like the real thing, or they can be more sophisticated, simulating weight, balance and material properties.
Usually, aesthetic models are “for show” and are not designed to be handled excessively. They give non-designers a good representation of the feel and look of an object. For example, production engineers can take data to assess feasibility for matching manufacturing systems.
Advantages:
-They can be used instead of digital models to give the user an idea of how the product would look like in a real environment.
-They can be used to give production engineers data to assess the feasibility of producing the product.
Disadvantages:
-They are non-working models and they only provide a visual model of the product.
-They are fairly expensive to produce as the surface finish can be difficult to recreate.
Mock-ups
A scale or full-size representation of a product used to gain feedback from users.
Mock-ups are used to test ideas.
Can have 'work-like' mock up and 'look-like' mock up.
Advantages
-Can be used to get feedback from the user.
-They can be models made to a 1:1 scale and offer a full size representation of the product.
Disadvantages:
-Does not offer as much functionality as a prototype.
-Can be difficult and time consuming to create.
Prototypes
A sample or model built to test a concept or process, or to act as an object to be replicated or learned from. Prototypes can be developed at a range of fidelity and for different contexts.
A prototype is used to test and validate ideas and can be used throughout the design development.
Prototyping can be used to provide specifications for a real, working product rather than a theoretical one. Prototypes are developed to work from two perspectives: the point of view of the development team, which can learn by creating the product, and the point of view of the user, from whom the development team can learn through user interaction and feedback. A prototype can be developed at different fidelities within a range of user and environment contexts.
Advantages:
-Is a semi to fully functioning model of a product and thus it can be used to test the functions of the final product out.
-It can provide specifications for the parts involved in a real product and how they would function together.
Disadvantages:
-Can be slightly expensive to make as the prototype needs to be able to function.
-Does not take aesthetics into account as it primarily tests the function of the product.
Instrumented models
Prototypes that are equipped with the ability to take measurements to provide accurate quantitative feedback for analysis.
They can be used effectively to investigate many phenomena such as fluid flows in hydraulic systems or within wind tunnels, stress within structures and user interaction with a product.
For example, an instrumented model of a keyboard can record the actions of the user and provide data on how often keys are used and the number of errors a user makes (that is, the number of times the backspace or delete key is used). These models can be scaled in terms of both geometry and important forces.
Advantages:
-Can be used to take accurate measurements related to the performance of the product, and can be used to improve the product further.
-Can be used to record the dynamic behaviour of an object, in other words, data can be taken on how the product functions in a controlled environment.
Disadvantages:
-Can take time and be very expensive to set up.
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