Our Worlds

EXPLORE. Whether we realize it or not, culture is all around us. Past and present, every square mile has a story. The OurWorlds company helps us find deeper meaning in the places where we live, work and travel.
DISCOVER. Have you ever wondered if there is more to the places around you? Using geolocation, OurWorlds enables our devices to unlock the stories of the places we go. We harness the power of emerging technologies to more comprehensively capture, preserve, and share culture.
IMAGINE. As you move through your day, discover content relevant to the place where you stand. OurWorlds embodies the indigenous belief that education and entertainment happen experientially, in nature.
OurWorlds is the winner of the SXSW 2022 Launch competition.
How to use the app:
LANDS MODE: Once you open the app, tap the Lands button, follow the prompts, and see your environment in a new way - with its indigenous tribal territory name superimposed in 3D augmented reality typeforms. Snap a photo of this and send it through the OurWorlds app. There, it will appear on the globe in the app when you are in Lands mode. Discover snapshots created by other users, and learn about the indigenous communities with roots in these places since time immemorial.
STORIES MODE: Once you open the app, tap the Stories button, and use the map or explore the content tiles to discover augmented reality objects and immersive reality XR360º experiences.
- View XR experiences in 360º by standing in one place, but turning as you stand to follow the action.
- View these experiences in VR by putting your phone inside mobile VR viewers like Google Cardboard.
- Most experiences will be available on demand from the map; some experiences are site-specific, meaning they can only be viewed if you are physically at the location indicated on the map.
OUR WORLDS XR360º
We are a Native American founded company and our focus is on finding new ways to preserve and advance culture. Beyond the limits of traditional communication channels, emerging technologies allow us to more comprehensively document culture and present narratives for future generations while staying true to the spirit of the community.
While our work began in Native American communities, it turns out that the resulting application has use-cases for civilizations and communities throughout the world. Place-based, primary source narratives are an important way for us all to gain a more true understanding of our environments and shared history.
This platform is being developed under the consultation of indigenous leaders in education, technology and culture. We are building a movement that uses emerging technologies to push culture and civilization forward into the future.
We are honored to have support and creative contributions from the 26 tribal nations of the SCTCA, or Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, and from Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. We are humbled to have received recognition from educational institutions, festivals, and journalists—people who understand that an inclusive approach is better for everyone.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Help us by sharing: The “Our Lands” mode feature proves we can deliver simple geolocation-based immersive experiences anywhere in the world. Now, we just need more content for the Stories feature. Your shares on social media will help us spread the word.
Help us by donating: Your donations and support through the app will help us realize this vision. All experiences on the app are free. Proceeds from optional in-app donations or downloads and purchases will be used to support content creation and will help more Native contributors create new content which we plan to release every month.
Another important goal of the project is to preserve these media and ensure they scale and translate to future platforms for future generations.
Join us in building the future.
Learn more about the project at https://ourworlds.io, or contact us at [email protected].