VR Tech Gives Unprecedented Look At U.S. House
This marked the first use of a VR camera in Congressional history and provided an "unprecedented view" of the camera, McCarthy said in a statement. A camera was installed in the center aisle during the April 27 performance, and it captured a frontal view of the attendee seated several rows behind. But footage on YouTube offers an interactive 360-degree experience, showing viewers seated next to a camera while members look at their phones, take photos and whisper to their neighbors.
McCarthy and Republicans in the House of Representatives overturned the delegation's vote and reopened the Capitol to tours after the House of Representatives returned to the 118th Congress. Now they see the addition of virtual reality as another step towards opening Congress to the American people.
Virtual reality is meant to complement the current coverage, not replace it. Broadcasts from C-SPAN, a non-profit organization that broadcasts events in the House and Senate, for example, showed a clearer view of Yoon, interspersed with wide-angle shots of the House and individual members. .
But virtual reality can at least give Americans a new and broader view of the camera, a Republican House aide said in response to questions about the new camera.
“Speaker Kevin McCarthy is passionate about innovation and testing new technologies,” the aide continued, and McCarthy hopes to “explore future opportunities where the use of VR cameras could be appropriate in the classroom.”
The Republican aide did not specify how often the camera could be used, such as whether it would be used only on special occasions or more often to film daytime legislative work.
The day before Yun's speech, the House of Representatives passed a resolution allowing the Chief of Staff of the House of Representatives to record his April 27 speech "for educational use of the public virtual reality experience," according to the text of the resolution.
According to observers and advocates of transparency, efforts to improve the public's understanding of the day-to-day workings of Congress are welcome. But those who have long called for greater access to cameras are skeptical.
“We are pleased to see the Speaker's Office experimenting with video technology in the House of Representatives. Anything that can make Congress more accessible to the public is a good thing," C-SPAN Vice President Richard Weinstein said in an email.
“At the same time, we hope the door will be open to discuss with the president our January request to add C-SPAN cameras to the existing House exit during legislative sessions,” he added.
"IT'S GO"
C-SPAN's latest push to increase access came after the long 118th Congressional presidential primary. McCarthy needed 15 votes to become Speaker, leaving the House without a set of rules to run through the day and leaving C-SPAN virtually free to take over the House's drama.
C-SPAN cameras filmed Rep. Mike Rogers, D-A, televising his colleague Matt Gaetz, D-F, after Getz's "Never Kevin" coalition successfully lost another vote. Kathy Porter, California Republican. Reading "beautiful art" A few days earlier, he had announced his candidacy for the Senate.
These clips from C-SPAN, which airs the home recording studio's official feed, drew praise from the usually obscure network and sparked a bipartisan fight for better access.
Goetz unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to the Republican rulemaking package that would allow C-SPAN cameras to remain permanently on the floor of the House of Representatives, and Rep. Mark Pokan, Rep., introduced a resolution that would call for "continued contact." ." As part of the broadcasts from January 3 to January 6, 2023, it is broadcast at full volume during the legislative session.
Pocon's resolution was not adopted.
Chamber began offering live coverage in 1979, but for over 15 years its cameras have been focused on the podium or speakers.
In 1995, President Newt Gingrich reversed this by allowing cuts that sometimes took lawmakers by surprise. Despite their decision to deploy an internal camera, Gingrich and subsequent panelists denied repeated requests from C-SPAN to use the internal cameras. The network reopened its investigation into McCarthy in January to no avail.
Opponents argued then and now that the floor cameras prevented legislators from negotiating or that the cameras contributed to political theatre. But supporters say more transparency is needed.
Jonathan Beadla, director of the government's R Street Institute program, said the benefits of adding cameras outweigh the costs, and that the use of a VR camera is a sign of McCarthy's desire to modernize Congress.
“Of course, the use of a VR camera, which seems to be used selectively and perhaps infrequently, does not significantly increase the transparency of legislation to the same extent that it increases independent access as C-SPAN, but we should welcome any steps in this direction. . direction." Bydlya said.
Goetz, who has not shied away from criticizing the speaker in the past, also moderately praised him.
“This is progress. It doesn't offer the dynamism of C-SPAN, but there is more transparency on the floor of the House of Representatives than at any time in history," he said in a statement.
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