Simulated control and response by a researcher behind the scenes, while a participant engages with a system
- Participants are led to believe they are interacting with a working prototype, but in reality, a researcher is acting as a proxy from behind the scenes.
- The “wizard” can intercept and shape the interaction between the participant and the system.
- The goal is to allow a user to realistically experience a product or interface before prototypes are built.
- For an appropriate, timely system response, the researcher must observe participant activity: for example, through video or screen-sharing software.
- The believability of the simulations hinge on the wizard’s consistency with respect to timing, patterns, and system ...