14 DAY TRIAL // Prototypes are the equivalent of embryos for products in the first stages of the evolution / development. The video embedded at the bottom of this article deliver a unique sneak peek inside the Microsoft Prototyping Lab, where future products take form.
This is an excellent chance to get a behind the scene look at some of the toys that Microsoft researchers get to play with as they’re working to build completely new products.
While the Redmond company is not exactly focused on hardware manufacturing, the lab is precisely designed to take care of such products. Of course, a software prototyping lab is bound to require less gear.
“In this video touring Microsoft Research (MSR) places, Tom Blank takes Larry Larsen around the Prototyping Shop.
“Our teams in MSR are constantly building gadgets & widgets as they test out their ideas and this shop allows them to make use of laser cutting machines, 3D plastic printers, lathes and milling machines,” revealed Microsoft’s Steve Clayton.
It’s important to note that not all prototypes manage to survive long enough in order to evolve into commercial products.
Microsoft Research is constantly underlining this aspect of the prototyping process as various details on new projects make it to the public.
Some prototypes end up shelved altogether, and in the eventuality that they don’t get axed, the best case scenario involves the research being used for existing offerings instead of birthing a new product.
“I took a tour around the shop myself a few weeks ago and can confirm that it’s way tidier than my old woodworking shop at school.
“This is just one of the hardware “labs” inside Microsoft and in a few weeks I hope to take you behind the scenes of the Microsoft Hardware model shop where keyboard and mice prototypes are made by hand. For now, enjoy this one,” Clayton added.