新APP让你零距离看白宫

Watch the White House Come to Life in New App 新APP让你零距离看白宫

Most people will never get a chance to go inside the White House, the famous home of the president of the United States.

But new application software can bring the White House to life for anyone with a telephone equipped for computer programs.

To experience this famous building, you just need your smartphone and an American one dollar bill.

The new app is called 1600, which makes one think of the real street address of the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington, D.C.

The 1600 app uses augmented¹ reality in the same way as the virtual² reality game Pokemon Go. The app creates a small version of the White House on your smartphone. After downloading it, just point the camera on the phone at a dollar bill to start the experience.

The dollar then transforms into a three dimensional (3D) model of the White House before your eyes. It creates images having length, width and height. When the smartphone is moved around, the images of the building also change.

U.S. President Barack Obama’s Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, provides commentary³ as part of the app. He provides historical information about the White House, talks about how the building is used today and describes some events held there.

The app shows some of the changes on the White House grounds throughout the year. You can watch the Easter Egg Roll in springtime and see a state arrival ceremony for a foreign leader.

There is even a hidden surprise to catch if you touch on the president’s Oval⁴ Office.

“We hope you enjoy and share this new way of taking a peek⁵ inside the White House,” Earnest said on WhiteHouse.gov.

The new app is the latest way the Obama administration has used technology as an educational tool. This time it gives people all over the world the chance to virtually visit the “People’s House.”

First Lady Michelle Obama has said the White House is also called the “People’s House” because it is a place where all people should feel welcome.

Words in This Story

application – n. a computer program that performs a special action, especially on a smartphone

virtual – adj. very close to being something without actually being it

augmented reality – n. technology that projects virtual objects in a real world environment that can be viewed through a device

transform – n. to change completely from one thing into another

peek – n. a brief look

address – n. a place where a person or organization may be communicated with; directions for how to find someone or something

1 Augmented   

adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

2 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

3 commentary   

n.评论，评注；实况广播报导，现场口头评述

参考例句：

• He is giving the commentary on the basketball game.他正在对篮球赛作评论。
• His running commentary on the football match was excellent.他对这次足球赛所作的实况报道十分精彩。

4 oval   

n. 椭圆，椭圆形跑道；adj. 卵形的，椭圆形的

参考例句：

• She has a lovely oval face.她长着一张可爱的椭圆脸。
• The shape of the earth is an oval.地球的形状是个椭圆形。

5 peek   

vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥

参考例句：

• Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
• Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛，别偷看。