Survios’ ‘Sprint Vector’ lets your run in VR without getting sick

Locomotion and speed are two of the hardest problems to solve in virtual reality — get either one wrong, and players are going to get sick. That’s why so many VR experiences use teleportation as their primary movement mechanic. It’s a safe, slow way to let players explore large game worlds. It’s become a bit of a standard, but you won’t find it anywhere in Survios’ next title. Sprint Vector is a fast-paced racing game that lets players sprint through obstacle courses at super-human speeds. The idea balks at the idea of the safe, slow VR environment, but somehow avoids inflicting simulator sickness on the player. The key? Turns out it was making hands the new feet.

Hand based locomotion is nothing new in virtual reality, but it’s not usual an analogue for walking or running. In Lone Echo, players use their feet to explore a weightless environment. In The Climb, one scales a mountain. These applications of arm movement feel natural because they’re identical to what one would physically do in those situations. Sprint Vector’s movement system isn’t, but somehow, it still works. To run, players extend an arm forward, hold down the trigger, and pull back for the length of the stride before letting go. They they do that with the other, alternating back and forth to accelerate through a neon race course at breakneck speeds.

Everything I know about VR tells me this shouldn’t work, but when I tried an early build of the game at GDC 2017, it did. Gliding through corridors, vaulting over walls and gliding through the air all felt almost natural. When I strafed in the opposite direction I was looking, I felt a little bit dizzy, but never at all sick. Yet I know for experience that if I had performed the same actions at the same in-game speed using a thumbstick, I would have been extremely uncomfortable.

I asked Survios about it, and was told that momentum plays a large part in it. Accelerating with a joystick would be too instant, but if the player uses their arms, they’re pushing themselves and gaining more speed with each push. Once they get up to high speed, they’ve eased into the experience and created enough forward momentum to keep the movement headed largely in one direction, without any sharp turns or inversions to upturn the stomach. In a way, it feels like cross-country skiing more than running, but it’s a movement system that works.

Still, it might be the most dangerous standing VR experience I ever played — not because I feel like i’m going to get sick or fall down, but because the movement system largely amounts to frantically flailing your arms in multiple directions. In the state the game is now, I’d be afraid to play it in my house out of fear for hitting my wife or punching a bookshelf. The game is just so fast paced, it’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve drifted in the real world from your starting point.

If players have enough space when the final game comes out, though, the risk might be worth it. Not only is Sprint Vector extremely fun, but it’s a fresh VR experience. One that breaks free from the crutch of teleportation. Its movement engine won’t work for every genre, but it’s a great experiment in finding better ways to move around in virtual worlds without actually moving around. Unfortunately, there’s no word when the game will be available to consumers. Right now, the game is just an early prototype — but it shows a lot of promise.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from GDC 2017!

Ad-averse Tesla will run a fan-made commercial

Tesla doesn’t need to advertise — thanks to word-of-mouth and Elon Musk’s 7.5 million strong Twitter account, it sold 400,000 Model 3 electric cars without anyone even taking a test drive. However, a fifth-grader named Bria noticed that despite the lack of ads, “many people make homemade commercials for Tesla and some of them are very good.” She suggested the idea of a contest, with Tesla airing the winning commercial, and Musk replied “that sounds like a great idea. We’ll do it!”

Thank you for the lovely letter. That sounds like a great idea. We’ll do it! https://t.co/ss2WmkOGyk

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2017

Bria is a green Tesla fan from Michigan who’s “sad” that Tesla’s can’t be sold in the state thanks to dealer laws. She learned about the EVs from her father, a professor and writer for InsideEVs.com, and watched “a bunch of awesome fan-made commercials” about the car. She’s likely referring to a homemade ad that shows a petroleum-based dystopia saved by a Tesla Model S and another with a boy using the EV as a makeshift spaceship (below).

Must said he would work with the two film-school grads that produced the latter commercial (he’s also behind SpaceX, a company that produces actual spaceships). Though Tesla hasn’t done any ads, it has produced lovely promo videos, including one for its autopilot.

Tesla doesn’t need advertising because it’s products are in high demand and there are a limited number of consumers who can afford its pricey Model S and Model X luxury EVs. As for the cheaper Model 3, it seems like it’s going to take years before Tesla will need to entice customers to buy one. However, part of Tesla’s draw is its green-tinted, socially-responsible halo. That was tarnished recently thanks to a sexism lawsuit and complaints about forced overtime, so a fan-centric ad contest is not a bad idea to build up some goodwill again.

Via: Reuters

Source: Elon Musk (Twitter)

Is the Nintendo Switch good for all the family? Parental controls, motion gaming and more explored

While the internet groans under the weight of umpteen Nintendo Switch reviews, including our own here, here’s an assessment of Nintendo’s new console with a difference – from a family perspective.

The Switch, if you have somehow missed the hype thus far, is the new console from Nintendo. Although it’s not just a new home console it’s also a portable gaming device as well.

The main device looks like a tablet, a bit smaller than an iPad Mini but thicker and more robust, that can be played in the hands or sits in a dock to connect to a TV screen. This we’ve seen before but the Switch has a new trick when it comes to controls.

• All the Nintendo Switch games: Launch titles and every game for 2017 revealed
• Nintendo Switch: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Nintendo Switch for the family: Joy-Con controllers

Its new Joy-Con controllers can attach to the side of the tablet to turn it into a bonafide handheld device, or be holstered in an included “Grip” to create a traditional gamepad when playing at home. They can also be used individually in the style of Wii Remotes or as mini gamepads in their own right.

Pocket-lint

For families, this works particularly well as different ages can play the console in different ways. Younger players will be keen on the handheld configuration with the Joy-Cons clipped to the side of the tablet while older children will likely find the Joy-Con Grip offers a more comfortable way to play. Finally, parents will appreciate being able to play two-player games on the switch without buying more controllers by using the Joy-Cons separately.

The Joy-Cons are quite small to look at but in the hand our test family all found them comfortable. There is an offset to the sticks which takes a little getting used to but an hour or so into playing Zelda and we weren’t even noticing it any more.

The Joy-Cons also have other tricks up their sleeve. They offer a much higher fidelity of rumble feedback – so much so that one game challenges you to count the virtual marbles in the thing by tilting and feeling the rumble. It’s hard to explain (or imagine) but it works really well. They also include a Kinect-style camera that can “see” shapes in front of it.

The Joy-Cons no longer have speakers like the Wii Remote though which is a shame. We really liked the added immersion having sound in your hand created but suspect there was only so much technology Nintendo could fit in the small controllers.

While these may seem like superfluous novelties, it’s features like this that point to the revolutionary nature of the Switch. While there’s plenty for families to be excited about at launch, it’s the inventive ways Nintendo and other developers make use of the format and controls that will be of most interest to a family audience.

1-2 Switch is case in point here. It is a launch game that is played largely without the screen. Each player holds one of the Joy-Cons and performs different challenges – milking cows, eating food and the like. Play this once and it will bring a smile to your face, but spend longer with the game and there is a surprising amount of depth here. In fact, as a family we’ve played 1-2 Switch just as much as Zelda – which is really saying something.

Nintendo Switch for the family: Battery life

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Another big driver for families is how long the device will last when played on the go. Of course this will vary depending on the game you are playing but as a baseline you should expect to get a few hours of playing Zelda before you need to recharge.

It’s easy to think that this is actually not that long in comparison to other devices. However, as you can see in this continuous test of the Switch against iPads, PlayStation Vitas and other 3DS handhelds, it actually holds its own pretty well.

A nice touch is that you no longer need batteries for the controllers any more. Unlike the Wii Remote, the Joy-Cons include built in batteries. Better still, the controls charge up by attaching them to the main tablet. This should mean they are charged and ready to go when you need them.

The Joy-Cons provide plenty of play time too – around 20 hours by our measure. One downside here for super-long play sessions is that the packed in Joy-Con Grip doesn’t include a USB port for charging. You need to purchase a Joy-Con Charging Grip for that.

• Do you need to buy Nintendo Switch accessories? Pro Controller and Joy-Con Charging Grip explained

Another nice touch is that you can charge the device from any battery pack using a USB Type-C cable. For families who want to use the Switch on long car journeys or train trips across the country this is a neat solution.

Nintendo Switch for the family: Games

Of course a big aspect of any new console is the games. Although the Switch doesn’t have loads at launch what it does have is of high quality. For many, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be all they need. This is a hugely impressive open world RPG that players of all ages can enjoy (noting the PEGI 12+ rating).

It offers refreshingly open combat and exploration as well as classic Zelda dungeon puzzles. Families can enjoy this together taking turns to play and solve the puzzles, collect food and craft potions and meals. Older players and parents may also prefer to play this later in the evening once the kids are in bed.

Nintendo

We mentioned 1-2 Switch above and it really is excellent fun for families. The new Bomberman R game also looks excellent. But it’s games like Arms that make novel use of the Joy-Con motion controls, or Splatoon 2 that will make the biggest splash with a family audience on its arrival around summer time.

Nintendo recently announced a wide range of indie games coming to the system as well, which is excellent news. Of these, it has managed to snag the next Steamworld Dig game which could be a system seller in its own right.

The only chink in the armour here is getting the latest version of must-have games on the system. For the Switch to be viable as the only console a family needs, it has to have Minecraft, Terraria and the latest version of FIFA. And while they are on the cards, they aren’t available yet.

It’s also worth noting that the Switch, unlike previous Nintendo consoles, doesn’t offer backward compatibility. This is a shame for those with a big library of Wii U or Wii games (and Wii Remote controllers) but is the price of Nintendo moving the technology forward. There will be a Virtual Console offering on the device in the future but this likely means you will need to re-buy classic Wii family favourites.

Nintendo Switch for the family: Parental controls

If families are in any doubt that the Switch is aimed at them, one look at the best in class parental controls will be enough to convince them. Unlike other consoles where you have to dig through menus to specific what your family can and can’t access, the Switch provides a handy app for parents.

On the console you can set some basic restrictions and behaviours but it’s on the app where things get really innovative. Here you can specify how long children can play each day before having to ask for an extension. Parents can also get a report of which games have been most popular in the home to help them understand the playing habits of their kids.

These features may seem superfluous to those without children but for parents the Switch is a game changer. No longer do mum or dad have to play the bad guy, coming in and turning the console off. Instead, families can agree together how long is appropriate and then get the console itself to police this decision.

The result for parents is a lot less stress. It should also mean that mums and dads are more engaged with the family gaming and more likely to get involved and play as well.

Nintendo Switch for the family: Value for money

The Switch, being the new exciting tech on the block and priced at £280, isn’t the cheapest way for families to get into gaming but it does offer good value. In terms of the games on offer, the ways you can play and being future proof the Switch is a system families can’t ignore.

While it would have been good to have a game packed into the box, being the only place to play Mario Kart, Splatoon, Zelda and the like cannot be overlooked in how much of a draw they are for families.

One Achilles heel we hope Nintendo fixes in a future update is the ability to stream videos via Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Video. Many families use their gaming machine to do this and will be surprised the Switch doesn’t yet support any of them.

Being able to buy one system as both handheld and console shouldn’t be underestimated in terms of value. This clever multiple use approach of the Switch offers great value for families who previously had to buy two of more products to achieve the same.

It’s also worth noting that you can play two-player family games with the Switch without buying extra controllers. For Xbox and PlayStation you need to spend another £60 before being able to play together.

Nintendo Switch for the family: Conclusion

On balance the Switch is a very exciting proposition for families. Not only does it have a great line-up of exclusive games, but the new controllers and ways to play will excite gamers of all ages.

It offers innovative ways to play and does so with a streamlined approach that is both well thought through and excellently delivered. Add to this to top notch parental controls and this is a system likely to be in high demand by mums, dads and their children.

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Antarctica’s new record high temperature is 63.5 degrees

According to the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, the new record high temperature on continental Antarctica is a downright pleasant 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17.5 degrees Celsius). The measurement was recorded at the Esperanza base on March 24th, 2015 but was confirmed this week as part of the WMO’s ongoing study of extreme weather and climate conditions around the world.

“The Antarctic and the Arctic are poorly covered in terms of weather observations and forecasts, even though both play an important role in driving climate and ocean patterns and in sea level rise,” Michael Sparrow, a polar expert with the WMO co-sponsored World Climate Research Program explained. “Verification of maximum and minimum temperatures help us to build up a picture of the weather and climate in one of Earth’s final frontiers.”

As frozen parts of Antarctica start to show alarming signs of cracking, the WMO’s Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes is tasked with documenting the changes at the edges of the continent. As the WMO also notes, the highest temperature recorded for the entire Antarctic region — meaning anywhere below 60 degrees latitude — was a slightly hotter 67.6 degrees Fahrenheit (19.8 degrees Celsius), recorded at Signy Island on January 30th, 1982. The highest temperature for the Antarctic Plateau, which is anywhere above 8202 feet (2500 meters) of elevation was a much colder 19.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius) recorded by a weather station on the Adélie Coast in 1980.

Source: World Meteorological Organization

Nintendo Switch still uses friend codes for some reason

As recently as January, we were told that Nintendo’s awful friend code system for finding and adding buddies for multiplayer games would be no more. That made us hope a better system for adding Switch contacts was on the way. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime even told CNET, “There are no friend codes within what we’re doing.” It turns out that’s not true at all, as the company revealed that friend codes are very much alive and well.

There’s a silver lining, though. Friend codes are one way to add friends on the Switch, but not the only way. After the Switch’s day-one software update, players have four ways of managing their friends list: search for local users, search for users you’ve played with, search with friend code and sent friend requests.

It’s worth noting that the second option will suggest contacts from Nintendo’s mobile games Miitomo and Super Mario Run, Nintendo Life says. The friends list is also capped at 300 users, according to a Japanese Nintendo support page detailing the update. As Polygon reminds us, this is a lot less than the 2,000 friend limit on PlayStation Network and the 1,000 max on Xbox Live.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been told friend codes would go extinct: Ubisoft said back in 2011 that the feature was on its way out, but clearly, that never came to pass. Still, this update isn’t all bad, since it also brings the eShop to the Switch in time for the March 3rd launch (although Virtual Console titles won’t be available then). So congrats on adding core features to your console a day before the masses get their hands on it, we suppose.

Via: Polygon

Source: Nintendo

Windows 10 fix will prevent updates from wrecking your day

Horror stories abound on the internet about forced Windows 10 updates screwing up presentations and other crucial work, so Microsoft is finally doing something about it. Rather than just installing updates whenever it wants, the next big Windows 10 release, the Creators Update, will let you “snooze” the update for three days or pick your own restart date.

Microsoft “heard that unexpected reboots are disruptive if they happen at the wrong time,” said Director of Program Management John Cable. That’s an incredible understatement, as inopportune Windows 10 updates have ruined so many business presentations, important work and even live weather broadcasts (above) that they’re a running meme. Customers have sued Microsoft (and won) over the problem, which may have prompted the company to finally do something about it.

Automatic Windows update restarted my PC and I lost hours of work in a commission. I want to fucking die.

— Lydric (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡ (@Lydricsama) October 30, 2016

With the Creators Update, Microsoft added an icon in the Windows Update Settings page that shows if your device is up-to-date. Once it arrives, you can schedule when to time it or simply snooze it for three days, as shown below. You can then snooze or reschedule it again if that still doesn’t work. Furthermore, you’ll have more choice for the “active hours” when it absolutely can’t do an update.

As with another recent Windows 10 feature around non-Windows Store apps, the new update feature is not unlike how Apple handles OS X updates. Microsoft is also tweaking privacy settings, making it easier to pick the privacy and data collection settings that suit you. It has unveiled screenshots that show how it looks and is gauging users’ opinions via a new “quest” in the Windows 10 Feedback Hub application.

Source: Microsoft

Real watch hands on a smartwatch face actually makes sense

One of the biggest complaints about smartwatches today is that they don’t always display the time, since their screens go to sleep after a while. Several companies have tried to alleviate the issue by offering always-on displays, but that comes at the expense of battery life. Swiss startup MyKronoz has come up with a creative solution by sticking actual watch hands on the face of its latest smartwatch called the ZeTime. And, after spending some time with a unit here at MWC 2017, I’m surprised by how effective it is.

The ZeTime comes in a 44mm stainless steel case, housing a round 1.2-inch 240 x 240 display. Just above this color touchscreen are silver minute and hour hands that show the current time. These arms are controlled by a companion app on your phone, not by the crown on the right side of the face, which can be slightly confusing for a long-time watch wearer like myself. The knob is used here to navigate the device’s OS, which is a proprietary system made by MyKronoz. Two buttons flank the crown, and can be customized to launch specific actions.

It was surprisingly easy to look through the mechanical hands to see the contents on bright, colorful display below. The preview units I saw were only running demo software instead of the actual operating system, but I could make out dummy notifications and messages with ease. Plus, with its 200mAh battery, MyKronoz says the watch hands can keep running for 30 days on a charge (that’s without the onboard software enabled). With all the smartwatch’s features activated, the company promises up to three days of endurance, which is impressive given the two-day runtime that competing devices achieve today. For reference, the recently released LG Watch Style can’t even last 12 hours without needing to be plugged back into a socket.

The ZeTime will cost a reasonable $199 when it launches later this month on Kickstarter, and for that price, it offers an impressive suite of features. It will have an onboard heart rate sensor and accelerometer to track fitness metrics via MyKronoz’s software, as well as send your smartphone notifications and messages to your wrist. If the company’s battery life promises hold true, the ZeTime could be a compelling option for smartwatch fans. And even if it doesn’t, the novel, yet surprisingly effective method of putting actual watch hands over a display is something that may (hopefully) catch on with other wearable makers.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

The makers of the most stylish Windows Phone embraced Android

Last year, at CES, I fell hard for a chubby, round Windows Phone called the NuAns Neo. Who could blame me? The two most notable Windows Phones at the time — the Lumia 950 and 950 XL — were drab, unimaginative-looking slabs. The Neo, with its friendly design and swappable back plates, was quirky enough to give me the kind of frisson that comes with seeing something totally out of the ordinary. Alas, Trinity, the company behind the phone, tried and failed to launch the Neo around the world by way of a Kickstarter campaign.

The demand just wasn’t there. Feedback from potential buyers told Trinity CEO Tetsushi Hoshikawa that they would’ve backed the campaign — or bought a Neo in Trinity’s native Japan — had it run Android instead. You can probably guess what Hoshikawa did next.

Enter the Neo Reloaded. It’s the Android device that Neo fans have apparently been asking for, and — surprise, surprise — it feels almost exactly the same as the original. That’s a good thing. You’d think that a phone with a back plate that splits into two pieces wouldn’t feel very sturdy, but you’d be wrong.

The Neo Reloaded is solid without feeling overly dense, and though it will stretch your pockets more than the average smartphone, you can kinda, sorta make it double as a wallet. The original Neo had a space for a Suica card for Japanese contactless payments, but the Reloaded — being a modern Android device — has NFC built-in, leaving room under the shell for a credit card or ID.

That’s not the only difference, either. The 5-inch 720p panel in the original has been replaced by a 5.2-inch IPS LCD running at 1080p, and there’s a handy fingerprint sensor nestled just below that. At the heart of it all is one of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 chipsets, one of the most widely used slivers of silicon here at Mobile World Congress. More importantly, it’s powerful enough to keep the close-to-stock version of Android 7.1 Nougat running without hiccups. The battery, meanwhile, has been upgraded to 3,450mAh and the display is swathed in a panel of Dragontail-Pro glass made by Asahi Glass.

That last component is surprisingly telling: Why not use Corning’s more recognizable Gorilla Glass? Cost had something to do with it, but Hoshikawa seems to take pride in the idea of a thoroughly Japanese smartphone. Sure, the Reloaded might be assembled in China — so is everything else. The surest sign of his dedication to Japanese representation came in the form of a back plate he pointed me to, pride evident on his face. The back plate was covered with Japanese denim. (And no, you probably shouldn’t rub that denim-clad phone on a white couch.)

I had always hoped we’d see another NuAns phone, no matter what form it took, but the Windows decision seemed like a costly one. When I asked Hoshikawa why he decided that Windows Phone was the platform that would win him success, he very candidly recalled the pitch Microsoft made: Windows 10, they said, was coming to smartphones with the intent to beat back its competitors. Microsoft was sure its time had come and the company (or at least the representatives Hoshikawa spoke to) sold him a vision of victory. That, clearly, was not meant to be.

Don’t feel too bad, though: Hoshikawa says the Neo Reloaded isn’t meant to replace the Neo so much as complement it. There’s room enough out there for similar devices running wildly divergent operating systems, but Hoshikawa is confident in his decision to go Google: It won’t be long before he launches a crowdfunding campaign to bring the Reloaded to a wider market, and Hoshikawa is gunning for victory.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Outlook 2016 for Mac now supports Google Calendar and Contacts

Users have been clamoring for Office 2016 for Mac to add Google Calendar and Contacts support, two features that have been available on both the iOS and Android versions for a while now. But the wait is nearly over. Microsoft announced on Thursday that it is beginning to roll out that support. Office Insider Fast community members will have first crack at the new functionality before it gradually extends to the entire user base by the end of the year.

The addition of Calendar and Contacts further integrates Gmail’s back end functionality into the Outlook UI. Just as with email, Outlook will now sync and manage these fields across all your devices. What’s more, this update will also enable a couple new Gmail features including Focused Inbox. To see if you can take advantage of the new bits, just open Outlook and select “Check for Updates” from the help menu.

Source: Microsoft Office Blog

Apple Watch’s Record-Breaking Quarter Was Opposite One of Fitbit’s ‘Largest Declines Ever’

Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 have proven to be a “magnificent success” for Apple, which recorded its “best quarter ever” in the wearables market, according to the latest data from research firm IDC.

Fourth quarter shipments reflected in millions (Source: IDC)
Apple shipped an estimated 4.6 million Apple Watch units in the fourth quarter of 2016, up from an estimated 4.1 million in the year-ago quarter, according to IDC. Its share of the wearables market, which includes basic fitness trackers, was an estimated 13.6%, down slightly from 14.1% in the year-ago quarter.

Apple closed the gap with wearables market leader Fitbit, which experienced one of its “largest declines ever” in the fourth quarter. Fitbit shipped an estimated 6.5 million fitness trackers in the quarter, down from 8.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Fitbit’s market share dropped from 29% to 19.2%, said IDC.

Apple has been heavily marketing the Apple Watch’s fitness capabilities as of late, rather than positioning it as a fashion accessory, and this shift in focus has allowed it to grow its presence in the wearables market, according to IDC:

Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 proved to be a magnificent success for the company as it was the company’s best quarter ever in the wearables market. The lower entry price point and the inclusion of GPS on the Series 2 along with a completely revamped user interface have helped the company grow its presence. Apple is one of the few companies that has been able to quickly refocus its watch to gain traction in the consumer market and has also been leading the charge on introducing the smartwatch category to the commercial segment.

Xiaomi finished second, between Fitbit and Apple, as its Mi Bands are priced well below most competing wearables, allowing the Chinese company to capture 15.2% market share based on an estimated 5.2 million shipments in the quarter. Xiaomi’s market share rose considerably from 9.1% in the year-ago quarter.

Annual shipments reflected in millions (Source: IDC)
Samsung was the fifth largest wearables vendor in the fourth quarter with an estimated 1.9 million shipments and 5.6% market share.

IDC estimates that Apple Watch shipments totaled 10.7 million in 2016 for an estimated 10.5% market share, down from an estimated 11.6 million shipments and 14.2% market share in 2015. The annual data has the same top five rankings as the quarterly data: Fitbit, Xiaomi, Apple, Garmin, and Samsung.

It is important to acknowledge that these are estimated figures, and that shipments do not necessarily reflect sales. Strategy Analytics said Apple Watch shipments totaled 5.2 million last quarter, which is roughly 600,000 units higher than IDC’s estimate, so there is clearly variation between datasets.

Apple does not officially disclose Apple Watch sales, instead grouping the device under its “Other Products” category in earnings results.

Apple only elected to share that the Apple Watch set all time sales records during the first quarter of its 2017 fiscal year, with CEO Tim Cook noting holiday demand was “so strong” that Apple “couldn’t make enough.”

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tags: IDC, Fitbit
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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