You can now take a tour of White House with President Obama as your guide

The 360 video provides an immersive view of the White House including some of the most historic and non-public spaces


Tech Desk January 14, 2017
US President Barack Obama speaks to the press outside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC. PHOTO: AFP

US President Barack Obama opened his house to the public on Friday after the outgoing president announced it in a video featuring an in-depth tour of the White House.

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“This house belongs to you, and to every American. For eight years, just a short chapter in the long story of our democracy, my family also had the privilege of calling the White House home,” Obama said in a post on the White House Facebook page.

PHOTO: OCULUS

Made in collaboration with Oculus, The People’s House: Inside the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama, takes viewers on a tour of nine famous areas of the White House including some of the most historic and non-public spaces such as the Situation Room and the Oval Office.

PHOTO: OCULUS

What’s more interesting is that the 360-degree video provides viewers with an immersive view of the president’s house using virtual reality headsets such as Rift and Gear VR complete with a guide from President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

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The Obama administration has opened up the White House to many more people over the past eight years. It is the only private residence of a head of state that’s open to the public, though visitors would still need to travel to Washington, DC. The video then allows viewers to take a tour of the president’s home from the comfort of their own home.

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