Google release educational augmented reality app

Former US treasurer Rosie Rios has worked alongside Google to release an app which allows users to add the faces of over 100 women to any US bill.

The Notable Women app was released after the news broke that the Donald Trump administration had decided to push back the release of a new $20 bill bearing the face of Harriet Tubman.

Rios was the treasurer in Barack Obama’s government between 2009-2016. During her time in office she played a huge part in the plan to get Tubman’s face on the bill in the first place. It was Rios’ project to poll Americans on who they believed should be the face of the new $20 bill and in 2016, Tubman was chosen.

The new $20 bill was originally due to be released next year as part of the 100th anniversary of women being given the right to vote through the 19th Amendment but it is now expected to be at least 2026 until the bill is released.

It's not just about seeing their face on currency. It's about learning more about them and the contributions they've made to our history.

The app also acts as an educational tool as it provides information and lesson plans on each of the women featured. The main AR feature works in a similar way to Snapchat filters as the faces of the notable woman can be imposed onto any US note by using any smartphone camera.

Amelia Earheart, Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks are also amongst those to feature on the app and its accompanying website.

"The beauty of the app is we don't have to wait," said Rios.

"It's not just about seeing their face on currency. It's about learning more about them and the contributions they've made to our history."

This isn’t the first time Google have made us of augmented reality as an educational tool. A Chromebook tablet was released earlier this year which can run AR apps in the classroom.