Abstract
This article investigates the role of storytelling in video game localisation and its impact on players’ immersion and overall gaming experience. While these topics have been extensively studied and developed within the research community, there is still a lack of information combining them in a practical study specific to a particular genre or video game. Using grounded theory, we conducted a study using The Witcher III: Wild Hunt as a case study (role-playing game). We had 41 participants play the video game in two localised versions (English and Brazilian-Portuguese), complete questionnaires, and be interviewed about their gameplay experience after each version. The results provided design recommendations to enhance video game immersion (language and voice-acting) and highlight certain aspects that game designers should consider to further intensify players’ immersion during gameplay.

Abstract
The Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) is is one of three first-generation science instruments for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and has recently completed its final design phase. Its Single Conjugate Adaptive Optics (SCAO) system will provide the performance of an extreme adaptive optics system which enables high contrast imaging observations in the thermal/mid-infrared wavelength domain (3 µm – 13.3 µm). The Real-Time Computer (RTC) is the central component of the SCAO real-time control system. It executes the time critical wavefront control loop as well as associated control tasks by processing the data from the pyramid wavefront sensor and controlling the set of ELT actuators dedicated to adaptive optics. A total of up to 4,866 commands to be computed at a loop rate of up to 1 kHz imposes a number of demanding constraints in terms of memory throughput and computing power on the Hard Real-Time Core (HRTC), which employs GPU acceleration for the bulk of computations. Several auxiliary functions need to be in place to establish and maintain the quality of the wavefront correction. Among them are the control of the pupil position, the compensation of misregistration and of non-common path aberration, and the adaptation of the temporal control parameters. The main wavefront control loop has been prototyped to verify timing requirements. A median RTC computation time of 382 µs was achieved for a 300k samples (5 minutes) run. The results are presented in this paper together with the foreseen RTC hardware and the software deployment within the SCAO Control System.

Abstract

Abstract
During the health crisis caused by COVID-19, virtual reality (VR) proved to be useful for the tourism industry, allowing this industry to continue working despite the restrictions imposed. However, it remains to be seen if the impact of this sanitary crisis in the tourism industry influenced managers' intention to adopt this technology in the post-pandemic period. To fill this gap, a qualitative methodological approach was adopted, using the MAXQDA20 software and interviews with managers of tourism enterprises. The results show that the willingness to invest in technology, the perception of VR as a business strategy, and the perception of the impact of the pandemic are factors that regulate the intention of companies to adopt VR. In addition, prior experience with VR and the perception of technical support are also important for its adoption. Thus, it was concluded that VR can be a valuable sustainable strategy for tourism companies to address the challenges imposed by the pandemic. However, adopting the technology depends on factors such as financial availability, business strategy, and previous experience with VR. Furthermore, tourism companies must also receive adequate technical support to ensure its correct implementation.

Abstract

Abstract
Measuring gas and liquid flow rate is paramount in various scientific and industrial applications. This work presents an optical fiber flowmeter based on a graphene oxide (GO) coated Michelson interferometer. The interferometer is fabricated using a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) followed by a GO-coated single-mode fiber (SMF). By radiating the GO coating, it experiences photothermic effect that induces local heating of the film. This results in a variation in the effective refractive index in the cladding modes, which induces a phase shift on the interferometer spectrum. When a gas flow is introduced near the coated fiber, the hot-wire region will experience a reduction in temperature proportional to the flow rate. The flowmeter exhibited a linear wavelength shift to the flow rate with an absolute sensitivity of 17.4 +/- 0.8 pm/(L.min-1) for gas flow rates between 2 and 8 L/ min. Furthermore, the dynamic response of the sensor was studied, attaining a maximum response time of 1.1 +/- 0.4 s