VR Tech Gives Unprecedented Look At U.S. House
According to McCarthy, this was the first use of a VR camera in the convention's history and offered an "unprecedented view" of the venue. During the April 27 show, the camera was positioned in the center aisle, and the front-facing panoramic shot of the contestant was placed a few rows behind. But the YouTube footage offers a 360-degree interactive experience, allowing viewers as members sit around the camera, look at their phones, take pictures and whisper to their neighbors.
McCarthy and the Republicans ended the House delegation vote and opened the Capitol for a spin when they took back the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. Now they see the addition of virtual reality as another step in opening up Congress to the American people.
VR is meant to complement current coverage, not replace it. C-SPAN, the nonprofit that broadcasts both the House and the Senate, for example, showed a sharp shot of Yoon interspersed with wide-angle shots of the chamber and members' trays.
But virtual reality can at least "give Americans a new and broader view of the inside of a room," a House Republican aide said in response to questions about the new cameras.
"Speaker Kevin McCarthy is all about innovation and experimentation with new technologies," the aide continued, and McCarthy "discusses future possibilities when the use of VR cameras in the House might be appropriate."
The Republican aide did not specify how often the camera could be used, whether it would be used only on special occasions or more often to film daily legislative debates.
The day before Yun's speech, the House of Representatives passed a resolution specifically authorizing the House Chief of Staff to record the April 27 speech "in virtual reality for public use for educational purposes," according to the text of the resolution. .
According to observers and transparency advocates, any effort to improve the public's understanding of the day-to-day workings of Congress is welcome. But those who have long called for greater access to cameras are skeptical.
"We're excited to see the Speaker's office experiment with video technology on the floor of the House of Representatives. Anything that makes 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 that the door will be open to discussion with the president during the legislative session to consider the January request to add C-SPAN cameras," he added.
"This is progress"
C-SPAN's latest push to expand access came during the long presidential primary election in the 118th Congress. McCarthy needed 15 votes to secure the presidency, leaving the House of Representatives without an active legislative package for several days and giving C-SPAN the freedom to cover the chamber's drama.
C-Span camera rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala. The coalition to catch Gaetz's "Never Kevin" successfully cast another vote after Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida appeared, and Rep. Kathy Porter of California apparently read "The Fine Art of Don't Fuck" on TV before announcing it. Run for the Senate.
Usually officially broadcast from home recording studios, these C-SPAN clips have typically drawn praise from the hidden network and bipartisan lobbying for better access.
Gatz unsuccessfully proposed a Republican rule package that would have permanently allowed C-SPAN cameras to stay on the floor of the House of Representatives, and Rep. Mark Pokan, R-Wis. Along with the January 3-6, 2023 broadcast, he introduced a resolution calling for the "continuation" of House broadcasts that are sold out during the legislative hours.
Pokani's resolution was not accepted.
The house started broadcasting live in 1979, but for more than 15 years its cameras have been pointed at the podium or the speaker.
In 1995, President Newt Gingrich changed that, authorizing cuts that sometimes caught lawmakers off guard. Despite the decision to expand the line of cameras in the House, Gingrich and subsequent panelists rejected repeated requests from C-SPAN to place their own cameras in the chamber. The network renewed McCarthy's request in January, but was unsuccessful.
Opponents argued then and now that the cameras in the chamber prevent lawmakers from negotiating or that the cameras help with political theater. But supporters say more transparency is needed.
Jonathan Bidlack, director of the management program at the R Street Institute, said the benefits of adding cameras to the chambers outweigh the costs, and that the use of virtual reality cameras is a sign of McCarthy's desire to modernize Congress.
"Of course, the use of a VR camera, which is used selectively and perhaps rarely, does not represent a dramatic increase in legal transparency as much as the expansion of independent access like C-SPAN, but we should welcome every step in this direction," he said. said Bydla.
Goetz, who has not shied away from criticizing the speaker in the past, praised him in equal measure.
"This is progress. It doesn't provide C-Span mobility, but it provides more transparency in the House of Representatives than at any time in history," he said in a statement.
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