Geography

The peoples House

The XR School › Geography › The People's House
Free Felix & Paul Studios 360 documentary • About 8 minutes Rift • Gear VR (original release)
Released 13 January 2017 • Narrated by Barack and Michelle Obama • Rated 4.0 from 296 ratings on the Rift store

The People's House

A short virtual reality tour of the White House guided by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, filmed in the final days of their time there. Stand in the Oval Office, the West Wing and the residence while they reflect on the building and its two centuries of history.

Studio: Felix & Paul Studios
Price: Free
Platform: Oculus Rift (originally also Gear VR)
Subject: History • Citizenship • Politics
6.4
/10
XR School Score
Worth a Look
Free • Guided by the Obamas themselves • High quality 360 film • Very short • Older release • US focused
4.0 • Rift store 296 ratings
Overview

The People's House is a virtual reality documentary made by the Montreal studio Felix & Paul with Oculus and the White House. It was released on 13 January 2017, a week before President Obama left office, on the Oculus Store for Rift and Gear VR and as a 360 video on Facebook. The original release ran for about eight minutes, and the studio planned a longer version later in 2017.

Filmed in the White House, it takes viewers to the front door, the briefing room podium, the Oval Office, the West Wing and the Executive and Private Residences. President Obama acts as guide, and Michelle Obama talks about making a public museum feel like a family home. Both reflect on their years there and on the building's history. On the Rift store, where it is listed as free, it is rated 4.0 from 296 ratings.

Hearing History From the People Who Lived It Few historical places can be toured with the people who were living there at the time. The People's House is a primary source as much as a tour: a President and First Lady describing a building and its meaning in their own words, recorded at a turning point in American politics.
What Viewers See
🏛️
The Oval Office
President Obama guides you through his office.
🎤
The briefing room
Stand at the podium used for announcements.
🏡
The residence
Michelle Obama on making the house a home.
📜
Two centuries
Reflections on the building's history.
Before You Use It The People's House is an older release built for the Rift and the now discontinued Gear VR. Check that it is available for your headset before planning a lesson; on a Quest you may need a PC link to play the Rift version. It is a passive 360 film, so students watch rather than interact.
Classroom Value
Historical value
7.4
Production quality
8.0
Curriculum links
6.0
Ease of setup
4.5
Length and depth
3.5
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
  • Free
  • Guided by Barack and Michelle Obama
  • High quality 360 filming by Felix & Paul
  • Inside rooms most people never see
  • Works as a primary source on a presidency
Considerations
  • About eight minutes long
  • Passive viewing, no interaction
  • Built for older headsets
  • Very US focused
  • One administration's perspective
For Teachers: Comparing Systems of Government Use The People's House in citizenship or politics lessons comparing the US presidency with the UK system. Watch it, then compare the White House with 10 Downing Street and Parliament, and discuss how buildings express power. In history, treat it as a source and ask students what it shows, and what it leaves out.
Free
Listed on the Rift store • Check availability for your headset
Felix & Paul Studios → More geography apps →
Quick Facts
Studio
Felix & Paul Studios
Partners
Oculus, the White House
Release
13 January 2017
Price
Free
Length
About 8 minutes (original release)
Guides
Barack and Michelle Obama
Rating
4.0 from 296 ratings (Rift store)
Verdict
The People's House is a short, beautifully filmed and free tour of the White House with an extraordinary pair of guides. It is passive, brief and built for older headsets, so check availability first. As a primary source for citizenship and politics lessons comparing governments, it is worth a look.

Gareth Griffiths

Gareth Griffiths is a scientist and the founder of World of Teaching, a free library of over 1,000 teacher made PowerPoints. He set up The XR School to help teachers, schools and parents find virtual and augmented reality apps that genuinely help young people learn, and to give an honest view of what each app teaches, which headsets it needs and what it costs.