Envision is proud to announce that the US Architect of the Capitol has launched Who Are the People?, an Augmented Reality (AR) application developed by Envision, for the Capitol. Statues in the Capitol collection reflect the history of our country. Download Who Are the People? below (for iOS or Android) and use your phone’s camera to see these statues in 3D with AR.

Engage with interactive content to learn about these individuals and the artists who commemorated them. See Helen Keller, King Kamehameha, Jack Swigert, Sojourner Truth, Sarah Winnemucca, and the Statue of Freedom in a new way!

Inside the app, users can resize, rotate, and walk around each statue to explore the sculpture up close. After completing special activities, users will engage with app “rewards” such as haptic technology that makes mobile phones vibrate or unique multimedia experiences. For example, the activity featuring NASA astronaut John “Jack” Swigert, Jr., includes the actual recording of Swigert’s historic radio message to the control room during the Apollo 13 mission. Users can also learn information about the artists who sculpted each historical figure from the Curator for the Architect of the Capitol. The AR app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play from the following links:

“We leveraged cutting-edge photogrammetry, modeling, and eXtended Reality (XR) game engine development technologies to bring you an incredibly real and immersive experience, wherever you’re at,” said Envision Director of Technology, Jonathan Carr.

“Envision’s AR technology immerses users in an interactive experience that tells the stories of diverse American heroes featured at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center,” said Envision President and CEO, Alexander Cortez, Jr. “We see a lot of potential for AR in the tourism industry, particularly for museums where visitors want to learn more about exhibits before, during, and after their trip.”