What I See in My Crystal Ball: the Future of Genealogy Research

What I See in My Crystal Ball: the Future of Genealogy Research By Dick EastmanBy Dick Eastman

Today’s PowerPoint slides are available at:

http://www.eogn.com/handouts/crystalball

The PresentThe Present

• How do we research our family trees today?

• Technology is now almost mandatory and that need will only increase as the years go by.

• Why use the Internet?

– Time

– Convenience

– Wealth of information available

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way, such as in the cloud?

• Do we need to store information in our own computers or is there a better way?

• Or will we someday use something that hasn’t yet been invented?

Genealogy Data Rating Systems

Based upon Wikipedia?

Based upon eBay?

• Personal databases can also (optionally) contribute new information to the cloud. This capability already exists in:– Family Tree Builder from MyHeritage– RootsMagic– Ancestral Quest– (to some degree in) Legacy Family

Tree– (to some degree in) Family Tree Maker

from Ancestry.com

• Prediction #1

• Putting your genealogy research results on the Internet will continue to become simpler and easier.

• Prediction #2

• Finding both original records and the results of others' research on the Internet will continue to become simpler and easier.

• Prediction #3

• The accuracy of the information published on the Internet will continue to be variable but Internet genealogists will recognize and deal effectively with accuracy issues, then will collaborate to groom the data already published.

• Prediction #4

• More genealogically relevant information will be published on the Internet by public institutions.

• Prediction #5

• Traditional genealogical societies will conduct more organized interaction on the Internet.

• Prediction #6

• Traditional genealogy societies will increase the number of their goods and services available for purchase over the Internet.

• Prediction #7

• More collaborative efforts will emerge as a result of Internet-connected genealogists sharing their work towards common goals.

• Prediction #8

• Major genealogy companies will continue to develop and sell Internet-provided products and services.

• Prediction #9

• Interest in genealogy will continue to increase for many more years as information becomes easier and easier to obtain.

• Will all this be perfect?

• Absolutely not. Rough edges will always appear and research errors will continue to plague us, only in smaller and smaller amounts every year.

Today’s PowerPoint slides are available at:

http://www.eogn.com/handouts/crystalball