Wizard-of-Oz study

A research methodology in which participants interact with a system they believe is automated, but which is actually operated partially or fully by a hidden human operator (the "wizard"). This approach allows researchers to evaluate user experience, interface design, and interaction patterns for systems whose underlying technology — such as computer vision, natural language processing, or gesture recognition — is not yet fully developed. Wizard-of-Oz studies are particularly valuable in accessibility research for testing the viability and user reception of assistive technology concepts before investing in full implementation.