Prototype testing is the process of assessing the first draft of any product. Before launching a product in the market, it goes to prototype testing, which allows the developer to find defects and areas of improvement.
The developers deploy a product to people so that they can use it and ensure that the product works perfectly. People analyze the first draft and identify the areas that can be improved. Prototype testing is a vital component of launching any product. It helps developers to know and understand how the product will act in the market.
Characteristics of Prototype Testing:
- It provides a better idea about the exact requirements.
- It helps in identifying related problems to the product earlier.
- It ensures future final delivery will be easy to use, meeting user requirements.
- It helps in achieving an overall idea about the actual product.
The below figure illustrates the prototype testing model.
Prototyping testing Model
How To Test a Prototype?
Prototype Testing is a very complex operation. The type of the product determines the user’s interactions with the product. A developer should know the testing’s objective. Knowing the objective of it helps in developing the testing methods, questionnaires, etc.
Steps of Prototype Testing:
- Collecting and analyzing the user’s experience: After the user has provided the verdict on the product, the developer can decide on the steps needed to fulfill the requirements to improve the product.
- Building a Prototype: Making a prototype is a common step one needs to do after collecting the information. A product’s type and phase determine the building of a prototype. The prototype data given by the users has a very vital role in this step.
- Determine what is needed to be tested: This step most obviously focuses on the developer or the tester. Hence, you should know what needs to be tested before putting the first draft as a prototype.
- Prepare a preparatory design of the product: Preparing an introductory design helps you in many ways. The rough outline of the product will provide you with an accurate prototype. It will obstruct further mistakes and also offers a reference for the final product.
- Assessment of user’s experience: In this step, conduct an assessment with the audience on the proposed prototype. The evaluation made of the proposed prototype will help the developer in recognizing the flaws. Furthermore, feedback will help in creating the product as user-friendly with the best user flow.