OurWorlds, Immersive Reality, and the Future of Native Histories

In a remarkable fusion of software technologies and human imagination, we are now able to experience disparate worlds simultaneously. Seamlessly intertwined, the past meets the present and cultures collide through immersive and extended reality. The possibilities are endless, as demonstrated by the innovative projects pioneered by OurWorlds.

The result of a chance encounter between designer-developer-filmmaker Catherine Eng and entrepreneur and Pala tribe member Kilma Lattin, this San Diego company is using a blend of mobile-based immersive reality, geolocation, stereoscopic 360º video capture, and storytelling. Their mission is to connect users with Native American history, language, and culture in a multi-dimensional manner. “By building and deploying extended reality layers on top of the natural world, we enable users to see far beyond the world that exists today,” explained Lattin at TEDxSanDiego in April 2024.

Hologram of a Choctaw soldiers superimposed on the Choctaw Code Talkers Monument in Antlers, Oklahoma. Courtesy of OurWorlds

Putting aside all the tech talk, this basically means that they are using all these tools to allow users to connect with their surroundings to unearth indigenous histories, culture, and narratives. The goal is to share and amplify silenced Native histories, fostering culturally significant experiences and understanding, revealing stories typically overlooked by Western academic or scientific practice.

Want to find out more about the OurWorlds app and their many applications for augmented reality? Read the full article ‘OurWorlds, Immersive Reality, and the Future of Native Histories and Knowledge’ available in the July – August 2024 51st Issue New Technology Uncovering the Past. Get it here!

Featured Image: Courtesy of OurWorlds

By Cecilia Bogaard