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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
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.
We invite everyone to monitor or contribute to the real-time research during the conference session. Tools and session participation links are subject to change. Check here before the session for the latest plans.
Collaboration Tools from Google
Tool
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Purpose
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Session Participation Link
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Cost
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Notes
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Google Blogger
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Communication, Artifacts
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NGS2010X Blog or E-mail
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Free
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HTML and images. Picasa has 1 GB free storage space.
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Google Groups
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Communication, Artifacts
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Free
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Provides messaging and a file area for any file type. Uses upload throttling and 100 MB storage space.
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Google Docs
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Communication, Artifacts
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Web Link
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Free
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Store any file type. 1 GB storage space.
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Google Gmail
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Communication, Artifacts
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Free
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Messages are private. Free storage space is 7 GB+.
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Google Wave
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Needs investigation
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Free
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Don't know.
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Google Buzz
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Communication, Artifacts
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Free
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Like Gmail, but messages can be shared. Same storage space as Gmail: 7 GB+.
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Google Picasa
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Artifacts
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Free
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1 GB storage space.
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Collaboration Tools from Certified FamilySearch Affiliates
Tool
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Purpose
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Session Participation Link
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Cost
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Notes
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Ancestral Quest NetFam
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Aggregation
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$29.95
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Online tree uses check-in/check-out to a desktop application.
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Appletree
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Artifacts, Aggregation
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$59.40/yr
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Arcalife
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Artifacts, Aggregation
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Free or $250
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Limited or 10 GB storage space.
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FamilyPursuit
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Communication, Artifacts,† Aggregation
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Free or
† 59.95/yr
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1 GB storage space.
† Storing artifacts requires a subscription of 59.95/yr.
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Mobiletree
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Artifacts
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$4.99
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iPhone application. Requires an account for the New FamilySearch tree. Accounts will be available to the general public gradually, starting sometime in 2010.
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One Great Family
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Artifacts, Aggregation
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$80/yr.
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Photoloom
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Artifacts
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Free or $39/yr.
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Users may store up to XX photographs for free.
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Collaboration Tools from Ancestry.com, Inc. and RootsWeb
Tool
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Purpose
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Session Participation Link
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Cost
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Notes
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Ancestry.com Member Trees
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Artifacts, Tree results
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Free
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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.
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Ancestry.com/ RootsWeb Message Boards
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Communication, Artifacts
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Free
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Supports attachments of GEDCOM and some image files up to 4 MB. No known storage space limit.
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GenForum
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Communication
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Free
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Other Collaboration Tools
Tool
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Purpose
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Session Participation Link
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Cost
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Notes
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Facebook
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Communication, Artifacts (low resolution), Aggregation
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Free
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Needed: someone to check the storage space available on Facebook. Also see
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FamilyLink.com
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Communication, Artifacts?, Aggregation
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Free
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Needed: someone to check this row of the table.
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Flickr
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Artifacts
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Free
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100 MB storage space.
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Footnote People Pages
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Artifacts, Aggregation
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Free
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File types: jpg, gif, tif, png upto 10 MB in size. No known storage limit.
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Photobucket
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Artifacts
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Free
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10 GB/month download bandwidth limit. 500 MB storage space.
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Skype
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Communication
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Free
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Needed: someone to check this row of the table.
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Twitter
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Communication
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#NGS2010X
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Free
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Text only with 140 character message limit.
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Yahoo Groups
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Communication, Artifacts, Aggregation
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Free
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Needed: Someone needs to add the various screen sharing and online meeting tools that could be used.
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Communication
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Free
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Needed: Someone needs to add the various online collaborative trees that could be used.
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Aggregation
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Free
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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.
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