Thinking in prototypes

I found the article quite interesting because I didn´t know how common was to make a rapid prototype now a days.
A rapid prototype helps you to understand better how is the object and how to use it. To experience that with a rapid prototype it´s like drawing in 3D, something I though was a little bit far away.
The artycle also said that this kind of prototyping has compressed the design cycle but not abolished it. You have to continue doing the process of design because that´s the best way of getting a good result. If you try enough things, something will work out.
Rapid prototyping has replaced screen renders because, seeing just an image isnt enough anymore.
I think that this kind of tecnology will help designers to comunicate better their idea. For me, to learn how all this works, and to actually use it is something I´m really exciting about!