Article Details

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate children's experience performance in science popularization games based on serial task flows using eye-tracking technology, and explore optimization strategies that balance “fun interaction” with “science popularization utility”. It establishes an experience performance evaluation framework centered on the “situation-interaction” coupling mechanism, and develops the game prototype Huashuo Nongsang: Nonggeng Chunqiu based on a serial task flow of “NPC guidance—interactive operation—cultural creative feedback”. Thirty-two children aged 6 to 12 are recruited to participate in the eye-tracking experiment. The results demonstrate that the serial task flow maintains relatively high task completion performance while keeping cognitive load during the interaction phase within an acceptable range. At high-difficulty levels, Empty-Space Fixation Count (ESFC) in the area where the NPC disappears and Task Success Rate (TSR) show a significant positive correlation, suggesting that NPC pre-guidance may establish retrievable spatial knowledge cues. Additionally, the cultural-creative feedback module guides children to complete information contact with science popularization texts through a visual anchoring effect. Based on these findings, this study proposes three design optimization strategies: spatiotemporal decoupling, spatial memory association, and knowledge-based reconstruction of incentive information.

Keywords

children's science popularization games; eye tracking; serial task flow; experience performance; spatial fixation

References

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Funding

2022 Guangdong Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Project (General Project) (GD22CYS02); Guangdong Provincial Education Science Planning Project (2024GXJK643); 2025 Guangdong Province College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project (S202514278017); 2026 Guangdong Second Normal University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project (202614278120)

About the authors

Zhang Wen (1985-), female, Han nationality, from Zhuzhou, Hunan, associate professor, master's student, research direction: interaction design.