Doing Research in Real Time

A presentation given by FamilySearch staff "Doing Research in Real Time-An Exhilarating Collaboration Experience!" (F308), at the National Genealogical Society 2010 conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. , presented by Alan E. Mann, AG®, Robert Raymond, and David E. Rencher, AG®, CGSM, FIGRS, FUGA .|} This session illustrates how to do research collaboratively in real time using off-the-shelf products and services to accomplish more in less time and (we think) better results. Collaboration While our presentation focuses on the tools and benefits of real-time collaboration, the research process benefits from both real-time and non-real-time collaboration. Consider choosing real-time tools that give all the collaborators time for later absorption and analysis of the results. Hypotheses can then be added, reviewed and discussed asynchronously, leading to richer, fuller analysis, and eventually sounder conclusions. For example, an online research log allows for real-time sharing and assigning of research tasks, but also enables further collaboration. Tools for Real-time Collaboration We've divided real-time collaboration tools into three types: communication, artifact storage, and aggregation. Communication These tools are used for "command and control" of a real time research session. This allows coordinated research activities. Assignments are given, results are reported, and a research log is produced. With this ability, the group is able to account for expected and unexpected results. Artifacts Artifact tools are used to share the documentary evidence that supports the research. These artifacts may include, but are not limited to: original vital records, probate, land, tax and other supporting evidence; photographs of tombstones, newspaper clippings – especially obituaries; summaries of oral interviews, etc. These artifacts need to be organized to tell the story and provide the evidentiary materials in such a way that other researchers have access to the materials for their own interpretation. Aggregator To aggregate the information streaming in from the various sources, an aggregation tool is necessary. This allows everyone to see the results of the research and to monitor progress. It also provides a critical analysis function by allowing visibility into the whole of the genealogical problem as it develops. Tool Tables Additions and corrections to these tables are encouraged. To qualify for inclusion, a tool must either be free or FamilySearch Certified. Since the printing of the syllabus, MyFamily.com eliminated a free offering, so it has been removed from the table. The tables in the conference syllabus use the term Tree Results instead of Aggregator. The tables here have been corrected. The conference syllabus only includes aggregators that provided their own collaborative tree. However, products certified to update the new FamilySearch Tree may be added to the tables below. Collaboration Tools from Google Tool Purpose Cost Notes Google Blogger Communication, Artifacts Free HTML and images. Picasa has 1 GB free storage space. Google Groups Communication, Artifacts Free Provides messaging and a file area for any file type. Uses upload throttling and 100 MB storage space. Google Docs Communication, Artifacts Free Store any file type. 1 GB storage space. Google Gmail Communication, Artifacts Free Messages are private. Free storage space is 7 GB+. Google Wave   Needs investigation Free Don't know. Google Buzz Communication, Artifacts Free Like Gmail, but messages can be shared. Same storage space as Gmail: 7 GB+. Google Picasa Artifacts Free 1 GB storage space. Collaboration Tools from FamilySearch Tool Purpose Cost Notes FamilySearch Wiki See notes Free Textual information about locations and records can be entered into the wiki. Information about individuals and families can not. FamilySearch Forums (beta) Communication, Artifacts Free jpeg file size limited to 976 KB, other image formats are limited to 620 x 280 pixels. new FamilySearch Tree Aggregation Free Gradual release to the general public sometime in 2010. Collaboration Tools from Certified FamilySearch Affiliates Tool Purpose Cost Notes Ancestral Quest NetFam Aggregation $29.95 Online tree uses check-in/check-out to a desktop application. Appletree Artifacts, Aggregation $59.40/yr Arcalife Artifacts, Aggregation Free or $250 Limited or 10 GB storage space. FamilyPursuit Communication, Artifacts,† Aggregation Free or † 59.95/yr 1 GB storage space. † Storing artifacts requires a subscription of 59.95/yr. Mobiletree Artifacts $9.99 iPhone application. Requires an account for the new FamilySearch tree. Accounts will be available to the general public gradually, starting sometime in 2010. One Great Family Artifacts, Aggregation $80/yr. Photoloom Artifacts Free or $39/yr. Users may store up to XX photographs for free. Other affiliates Aggregation Needed: Someone needs to add the other NFS update certified programs. Collaboration Tools from Ancestry.com, Inc. and RootsWeb Tool Purpose Cost Notes Ancestry.com Member Trees Artifacts, Tree results Free Collaborators must be invited to make changes to the tree. Files can be up to 15 MB of types: text, MS.doc, PDF, jpg, png, gif, tiff, and bmp. No known storage space limit. Ancestry.com/ RootsWeb Message Boards Communication, Artifacts Free Supports attachments of GEDCOM and some image files up to 4 MB. No known storage space limit. GenForum Communication Free Other Collaboration Tools Tool Purpose Cost Notes Facebook Communication, Artifacts (low resolution), Aggregation Free Needed: someone to check the storage space available on Facebook. Also see FamilyLink.com Communication, Artifacts?, Aggregation Free Needed: someone to check this row of the table. Flickr Artifacts Free 100 MB storage space. Footnote People Pages Artifacts, Aggregation Free File types: jpg, gif, tif, png upto 10 MB in size. No known storage limit. Photobucket Artifacts Free 10 GB/month download bandwidth limit. 500 MB storage space. Skype Communication Free Needed: someone to check this row of the table. Twitter Communication Free Text only with 140 character message limit. Yahoo Groups Communication, Artifacts, Aggregation Free Various free screen sharing and online meeting tools Communication Free Needed: Someone needs to add the various free screen sharing and online meeting tools. Various online, free collaborative trees Aggregation Free Needed: Someone needs to add the various free online collaborative trees. Post Project Followup Following a research project, participants will want to go back through the results of the project, proof reading information, checking conclusions, and offering further research suggestions to the primary participant. Examples From Our Session Our research log. This is the log of what we had scripted to do, not what you saw happen. Results of our research using Footnote person pages. Any registered user can make changes to these pages. We invite you to extend our results. Results of our research in an Ancestry.com member tree. To see the results, you must have a subscription or you must be in the Family History Library or in a public library. Only members of our research project team can make changes to these pages. Summary The desired outcome for this presentation is that you will take away the knowledge that research can be conducted in dramatically different ways than you may be used to doing. More people can participate, producing more artifacts and results in less time, making your valuable research time more productive.