Wizard of Oz Studies with Older Adults: A Methodological Note

Wizard of Oz (WoZ) is a prototyping technique in which users basically interact with what they believe is a fully functioning technology, while, in reality, the system is operated by a researcher, usually concealed from the participants. WoZ technique allows the exploration of user requirements and design concepts at an early stage in the design process and it can provide information about the interaction of different group of users, including older adults. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of WoZ method in HCI and, based on related literature and our experience, we present the methodological value and the potential drawbacks of WoZ approach in User-Centered Design when involving older people. We discuss indications on rganizational and ethical aspects of conducting WoZ studies with older participants and highlight the positive impact and possible pitfalls of this approach in sharing vision of future technology and communicating ideas for design.