Visual Attention Allocation Across Workflow Stages: An Eye-Tracking Study on Spatial Interface Layout

As digital tasks become multifaceted, different workflow stages impose distinct attentional demands, necessitating adaptable interface layouts. Framed by distributed cognition and the Salience, Effort, Expectancy, and Value (SEEV) model, this study evaluates the alignment between spatial layouts and attentional requirements across three workflow stages (initiation, execution, and interruption) using eye-tracking and the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance scale. Results reveal that layout effects exhibit pronounced stage and region specificity. During task initiation, spatial grouping mitigated excessive visual sampling. Throughout execution, layout impacts were localized within the tool area, yielding differentiated attentional access. During interruptions, notification locations significantly altered initial orienting and subjective affective states. Consequently, design strategies must be tailored to specific task goals, functional areas, and attentional demands. This study provides robust empirical evidence for spatial layout design based on task phases, broadening the applicability of both theoretical frameworks in multistage human-computer interaction.