RootsTech: A Replacement for Genealogy Conferences?

Competing or Complementary?

Some have contested that RootsTech is killing smaller conferences and negatively impacting the attendance at genealogical events. Long before the RootsTech call for papers was released, I knew there was no need nor intention to compete with genealogical conferences. Although I allowed the program selection committees to make their own decisions about which classes they selected for the program, I did instruct them to this end: classes that were strictly genealogical in nature should not be included in the program. To better define this, I explained that genealogy has become so inseparably connected with the Internet, that a class on genealogy that mentions the use of a website (or multiple websites) did not qualify as a "technical" class.

With that background, I recommended that classes that were genealogical in nature and heavily weighted technical should be included in the technology user program. Also, classes that were technical, but not necessarily genealogical should also be included in the program.

One segment we did not attempt to address were those who needed technical instruction from the ground up. Despite our efforts to not focus on content for these individuals, we found that the demand for technical training among genealogists is so great, that even these technical fledglings were eager to attend to receive some technical education. Their need is so great, but the opportunities to receive beginning technical training on genealogical products is limited.

To those conferences whose attendance has waned, I would ask these questions:

• Is there an opportunity for providing hands-on training from the ground-up for this large number of technology beginners who have an interest in (or may be skilled at) genealogy?
• Are the classes being offered similar to, or the same as classes offered in the past? If so, are those classes still interesting to attendees?
• Do attendees want something new?
• What content would attendees value the most?

Based on my meager observations at RootsTech, the demand for technical training on websites, software applications, and even the basics of computer use are so great that there are many opportunities available to meet these needs. These do not require elaborate computer labs, just good instructors who are willing to take the time to prepare clear, detailed, and professional presentations, accompanied with detailed step-by-step instructions (that might take up more space than four pages).

I don't know the answers for each concern or question, but I do know that RootsTech was not intended to address all of the technical needs of genealogists, nor to replace genealogy conferences. Those pursuing a genealogical education will find themselves in want if they rely solely on RootsTech to provide them with that education. Conferences and educational opportunities like NGS complement RootsTech by providing the in-depth knowledge needed to navigate through electronic resources. Additional educational opportunities include, but are not limited to local and international genealogical and historical societies/organizations, FGS, IGHR SLIG, Family History Expos and many, many more.

As one who believes in letting users influence what we create for them, I am often heard to say, if you want to know what users want, ask them!

Google: An Alternate Reality?

I recently purchased an Android phone. I am accustomed to using an iPhone, and was oddly surprised to realize that Android phones, like all Google products, did not attempt to mask its purpose to gather personal information to customize marketing to each customer. For those who didn't understand a word of what I just said, let me explain.

When you use the Google Search Engine to locate a French Bakery, it locates what you are searching for. There are some great products that Google offers: Google Docs, Google Chrome, Google Wave, Google Earth, Blogger, YouTube, Google Analytics, Gmail and more. You need an account to use each of these tools. This account requires that you include your location and other details about yourself. The next time you search, it may 'remember' information about you to customize your search based on your IP address. For example, rather than searching for every French Bakery, it may show you the French Bakeries that are in close proximity to your location, even without GPS indicators.

Now when you visit your favorite blog, the ads that show up may be customized to you, not unlike Facebook ads. If searches are so smart, is it possible they could alter our perspective of the world? While we all get annoyed when a search engine query returns a lot of irrelevant information, is it healthy to limit that information to only what the search algorithms deem are relevant to us?

Fortunately, Google is always adjusting their search algorithms to improve the search experience, and in their own words, they take the responsibility of your privacy seriously by letting "you know what information [they] collect when you use [their] products and services, why [they] collect it and how [they] use it to improve your experience." After all, nobody is making you use any of their products.

What does all of this mean for me? Will I stop using Google products because I know what they are up to? Absolutely not. I love using Google Chrome, Google Translate, Google Earth, and many of their other offerings. Still, it is helpful to understand your options, including the opt-out option, detailed in the Google Privacy Center.

Also, as much as I love the Google search engine, it isn't a bad idea to take a look at other options now and again, remembering that each search engine will return different information because the search algorithms are all designed to locate information in different ways. View a comprehensive list of search engines. While the possibilities of Google shrinking our world to meet our individual needs is unlikely, I am always grateful when I can stumble onto something that my normal Internet meanderings may not include.