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Prototype This!
- Discovery Channel
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
High-tech inventions will wow curious families.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the experts featured in this series use knowledge and imagination to come up with solutions to problems like the hazards of road rage. There's plenty of worthwhile educational material here -- as well as inspiration for budding inventors. The subject matter is too advanced for littler kids, but tweens and up will be fascinated.
What's the story?
Do you ever wish you had someone to feed you breakfast and brush your hair in the morning? Have you ever sat in traffic and daydreamed about a car that could squeeze between the freeway lanes? For the cast of PROTOTYPE THIS, modern inconveniences like these present opportunities for ingenuity. In each episode, experts Dr. Zoz Brooks, Joe Grand, Dr. Mike North, and Terry Sandin combine their skills in electronics, engineering, special effects, and fabricating to tackle a problem with a solution that seems to challenge modern-day expectations -- proving time and time again that anything's possible if you don't limit creativity.
Is it any good?
Whether you're an aspiring inventor or still stumped by the genius behind the paper clip, you'll be fascinated by this intriguing series. Sure, we've all had big ideas about designing the world's first full-body airbag, but how many of us have actually sat down at the drawing board and started designing it? That's the kind of challenge this impressive team of experts faces, and they leave no stone unturned in their quest to create a viable prototype for each scenario. After all, what good is a freefall airbag if it can't deploy itself in an emergency, fill with just the right amount of air to break an otherwise fatal tumble, and then deflate enough to cushion the landing?
Prototype This has it all -- a likeable cast of experts who clearly enjoy what they do, plenty of educational value, low-lying messages about teamwork and respecting one another's strengths, and real-world examples of solving problems and turning mistakes into learning experiences. Not only are the final products a wonder, but the entire design and testing process is a captivating journey through the world of cutting-edge technology and its applications for the future. So encourage your family to put on their thinking caps and join forces for this fun, thought-provoking series.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about inventing. Does this series inspire you to solve a problem through an invention? What would you create? What tools and technology would you use? How do you think your invention would change people's lives? How do problems create opportunities? Families can also discuss the sciences. What scientific specialties were represented in this show? How did the experts put their knowledge to use on this problem? What aspects of science interest you?
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| Topics: | science and nature |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Discovery Channel |
| Cast: | Joe Grand, Mike North, Zoz Brooks |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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