Greening The Spark now with Audio & Online Game Results

Two major new features, audio and online results, have been developed recently (and are still work in progress). For more details on the project, visit the GTS tab on the menu bar above, or click here. For greater detail on how audio and game results work, go to the GTS Tech Talk page.

Audio

Development of an audio capability has allowed the creation of a soundscape and a narrative. Sound effects enhance operation and bring it alive, while three characters inform staff and visitors about what is going on. Examples are:

Robotic GTS system voice
Aussie guide Logan
Indian guide Sajani

Game Results

At game over visitors can see the sparks* they’ve earned and their unique game number on the Visitor Control Panel. Meanwhile GTS has posted their detailed results online These contain a summary and three plots showing timelines of everything that has happened.

*Sparks are awarded for performance in the categories : economy. eco-friendliness and efficiency. Green is best, red is worst and blue is in between.

Visitors will be able to access their “Simulation Report” by using a QR code or following a link – currently unavailable and awaiting migration to a new website.

Roman Games in trouble again

Team Christians has quit the Roman games citing mental health issues. Spokesperson Lucius Ectorius said “Preparing to be thrown to the lions takes years of training and is one of the most stressful sports there is.”

Three gladiators have tested positive for the performance enhancing drug opium novum and have been banned for five years. Emperor Titus was unavailable for comment.

Green Mini – greener than you think

It can’t get much greener than this: electric windows, windscreen wipers and door locks; even the starter motor is electric! The only thing that isn’t is the engine, but I use that for charging the battery, so that’s not going anywhere. Oh, did I mention the paintwork? Racing Green. Green and racey. Pretty cool huh?

A Christmas Greeting

“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” (Job 1:21) – why Covid-19 is good for us.

Post-war baby boomers and their living predecessors are two of the groups most susceptible to the current pandemic and are suffering fatal consequences in great numbers (the boomer remover).

Risk reduction measures have included self-isolation and social distancing, full quarantining in many cases. This has led to couples spending more time at home together which will no doubt lead to a new baby boom in a few months time.

“Every cloud has a silver lining” as they say and indeed the Covid-19 cloud is shining brightly, turning the age demographic on its head and fixing some long term problems in its wake.

Pension fund holes, increased rates of Alzheimer’s, housing shortages, more elderly and fewer young are all placing great strains on the NHS and the economy as a whole. Covid deals with all of these in one fell swoop: it decimates the old and replaces them with the new. Like a bush fire, it clears the way for new growth and renewal and should be celebrated. Happy New Year!