Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Yusong Liang, and I am a first-year undergraduate student at Florida State University, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Math. My current research focuses on building immersive environments that leverage game-based learning experiences to improve educational engagement. In the future, I am also interested in exploring the field of AI and/ or cyber security more. Besides my research, I am a part of the FSU Presidential Scholars program. Moreover, I work as a tutoring assistant at the FSU ACE center and as a tour guide for incoming students with the Torch Society on campus.

NutriQuest: Developing a Game- Based Experience Educating Healthy Eating Habits

Abstract

This research aims to develop an educational game to promote awareness of healthy eating habits, including intuitive eating and mindful eating habits. We are investigating this question because previous research indicated that a high percentage of adults, especially college students, suffer from various eating disorders. Therefore, we seek solutions to this problem by creating a strategic puzzle game that simulates daily eating behaviors. This is a design-based research project with multiple iterations. Currently, the project is in the second round of development, which we have migrated from PyGames to Unity. Unity allows us to enhance user performance and include more functionalities. This development iteration was based on the user testing on 28 adults in 2024, where they provided feedback for improvement and that the game helped them reflect on their dietary habits. Following the user suggestions, refinements such as adding more ingredients and recipes, revising game stages, and enhancing the user interface were finished. The game is expected to be published online by the end of Spring 2025, and more user testing and implementation are planned in upcoming semesters.

Keywords: immersive learning, gamified learning, game development