After the tired "uplifting" dramatics of the recent movie “Flash of Genius” with Greg Kinnear and the exploitative pseudo-emotion of the reality TV series “American Inventor”, it seems as though the excitement, complexity and hardship of inventing might finally be getting the proper on-screen treatment. Starting October 15th, the Discovery Channel will begin airing the thirteen-part series “Prototype This”.
Produced by Australia’s Beyond Productions, “Prototype This” follows a team of scientists and engineers (pictured) as they dream up, design and construct gadgets of the future. Each episode involves the creation of a different never-before-seen prototype – many based on wild or out-there concepts. Though the show involves experts with a lot of advanced technology and resources, it spotlights the challenges inventors face in trying to create something new, as well as the thrilling triumphs of overcoming them. Working in a warehouse on an island in San Francisco Bay, the innovators taking viewers through the invention process on “Prototype This” each have their own specific areas of expertise. Joe Grand, described as a “maverick who runs his own business” focuses on circuits and electrical design; Terry Sandin, a special-effects technician, deals with animatronics and fabrication; Dr. Zoz Brooks, who holds a PhD from MIT, works with robotics and computing systems; finally, Dr. Mike North, another PhD holder known for his “fun” experiments, concentrates on materials and mechanical engineering.
In the premiere episode, the diverse team attempts to create a prototype of a “mind-controlled car”. A bit more practical than the name makes it seem, the car is actually intended to subdue the negative effects of road rage. The inventors develop a prototype car that uses biofeedback sensors to restrict the vehicle’s performance when the driver’s agitation level increases. Much like another Discovery Channel show, “MythBusters”, all the complex concepts on “Prototype This” are tested in entertaining and epic ways. A prime example, the prototype “mind-controlled car” produced on the premiere episode is ultimately sent to work in a place where road rage is deemed inevitable: a demolition derby. Future episodes will deal with the creation of inventions like boxing robots (I’m picturing life-size Rock Em’ Sock Em's); the “Get Up and Go”, a “space-age sleeping pod that gets a person up, fed, showered, groomed, dressed, informed and out the door in a matter of minutes”; and a six-legged ATV. An episode to air in late November or early December even promises something called the “Flying Lifeguard”, which sounds pretty intriguing.
While past attempts at relaying the invention process through both fiction and documentary styles have proved only moderately successful, “Prototype This” seems to have greater potential. The reason for this is that no one really melds science and entertainment quite as well as the Discovery Channel. With programs like “Man vs. Wild”, “Dirty Jobs”, the truly amazing “Planet Earth”, and the aforementioned “MythBusters”, Discovery manages to walk a fine line – airing programming that is relatively educational (most of time) without ever being boring. Even their so-called “reality” shows don’t really belong in the same class as typical reality TV like “American Inventor”, which took a potentially good idea and sabotaged it by condescending to inventors and trying too hard to tug heart strings. Hopefully, “Prototype This” will do a better job of depicting the drama inherent in working to bring innovative ideas to life.
“Prototype This” premieres on the Discovery Channel on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 10 pm. Subsequent new episodes will air each week in the same time slot.
