The Pinocchio Pretotype

The Pinocchio pretotype is a technique where you use a non-functional model of a product to simulate the user experience. The name comes from the story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet who dreamed of becoming a real boy.

The most famous example of a Pinocchio pretotype is the PalmPilot. Before building a working prototype, Jeff Hawkins, the creator of the PalmPilot, carved a block of wood to the size and shape of the intended device. He carried it around in his pocket for weeks, pretending it was a real device. He would take it out to check his calendar, look up phone numbers, and take notes.

This allowed him to get a feel for how he would actually use the device, and to identify the most important features. This data was invaluable in guiding the development of the actual product.

The Pinocchio pretotype is a simple but powerful way to test the ergonomics and user experience of a new product. It can help you to identify design flaws and to focus on the features that matter most to users. It's a great way to get Your Own DAta (YODA) on your own usage patterns.