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The Latest Technology for Genealogists
Dick Eastman
October 20, 2007
A Look at Devices to Expand or Simplify Genealogy Research
Digital cameras, portable scanners,
PDAs … Just a few of the new technologies
available to modern genealogists.
Today’s Discussion:The Latest in Genealogy Tools
Genealogy Tools?
Most tools not designed for genealogy, but they work well for multiple uses.
Recommendation: Do not purchase a tool exclusively for genealogy work: Make sure it’s multi-purpose!multi-purpose!
Tools for today’s discussion
Laptop computers Handheld computers Scanners Digital cameras GPS Communications Devices
Laptop Computers
Take your computer to the courthouse!
Laptop computers are not new…
What is new: POWER! Today’s laptop could be your only computer!
Example: Today’s Laptop PCs
Toshiba M3 1.86 GHz CPU 80 GB hard drive 512 MB RAM memory Built-in CD-DVD/RW and
wireless networking Windows XP 5 pounds Price: $1849.99
Lower-priced Example
Compaq M2000 1.6 GHz CPU 40 GB hard drive 256 MB RAM memory Built-in CD-DVD/RW and
wireless networking Windows XP 6.5 pounds Price: $529.99
An Even Lower-priced Example
Wal-Mart, Staples, best Buy and others sold laptops on “Black Friday” for $399!
Ultra Portable Example
Asus R2H Roughly the size of a VHS
tape 7” screen 900 MHz processor 60 GB hard drive 768 MB RAM memory Wireless networking Windows XP 2.4 pounds Price: $875 to $999
Handheld computers
Tiny Can go with you
anywhere
Limited functionality Limited storage
(but improving)
Palm versus PocketPC
Genealogy Software for Palm OS
GedStar Pro - $29.95 Plus - $19.95 Basic - $13.95
My Roots – $24.95
PocketPC Handhelds
Excellent PDAs Generally more
powerful than Palm 8 to 256 MB RAM
memory Better
communications Hard drives may be
added
Some PocketPC computers have keyboards!
Hewlett-Packard Jornada
Genealogy Software for PocketPC Handhelds
My Roots - $24.95
The Pocket Genealogist Basic Edition $20 Advanced Edition $35
The Pocket Genealogist
3-Generation Screen Parents Current couple Children
The Pocket Genealogist
Individual Information
Clicking on tabs across top of screen moves to other screens
The Pocket Genealogist
Events
Clicking on Event type allows editing of different Events
The Pocket Genealogist
Individual Notes
Full support of text notes, up to maximum size of available storage memory
Scanners
The big news in scanners is prices…
…falling like a rock!
Watch for Bargains!
Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 4600
Recently available for $29.94 (after rebate)
Moving up a Bit in Price Adds Features
Canon LiDE 35
Recently available for $49.99 (after rebate)
Self-powered Handles larger
documents
How good is a $49.99 Scanner?
Prices Vary Widely
Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 5550c will produce higher quality scans.
Has a built-in sheet feeder
Not very portable
Price: $299
My Recommendation
Plan to spend $50 to $100 for a good general-purpose portable scanner but more for a high-resolution desktop unit.
Do not be mislead by specifications, such as “dpi.” Quality is difficult to measure!
Not All Scanners Are For Your Desk
Visioneer SXP1001-DB Travels with you Color or
black-and-white One sheet at a time Price: $179.95
A Handheld Scanner!
QuickLink Pen by WizCOM Technologies, Ltd.
Scans a line of text at a time and converts to text by OCR
Easily transferred to PC, Mac, Palm, or Windows CE
Price: $139.95
Digital Cameras
Big news in digital cameras:
More capability Lower prices
What’s New in Digital Cameras?
More pixels!
Typical example: Minolta Dimage S414
4 Megapixel CCD Price: roughly $200
What’s New in Digital Cameras?
More pixels!
Nikon D70 6.1 Megapixel CCD Price: $899.99 +
Image Storage
Early cameras Stored images in memory Required cables to copy to
a PC
Today’s cameras store images in: Flash Memory cards Floppy disk Memory Sticks Mini-CD
How About Batteries?
Early cameras and some modern ones used expensive rechargeable batteries
Many now use penlight cells Disposable ones are easily available Rechargeable penlight batteries are also available
Don’t be caught with dead batteries at a critical moment!
Removable USB Drives
Also known as Jump Drives or Flash Drives
Store from 16 megabytes to four gigabytes or more
Prices vary from $3.99 to $150, depending upon storage
Removable USB Drives
Can be found in all sorts of devices
GPS
Global Positioning Satellitesystems
Identify your locationany place on earth +/- 10 feet
Popular in aviation, trucking, boating, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities
Why would a genealogist use GPS?
To Find Cemeteries!
Locate a cemetery on the U.S. Government’s geographic names information service at: http://geonames.usgs.gov/
Note cemetery’s latitude & longitude Enter coordinates into GPS Drive to the cemetery!
GPS Prices
…vary from $90.00 (at Wal-Mart)
GPS Prices
…to $899 (also at Wal-Mart)
GPS Prices
…to more than $2,000 In this Lexus
NOTE: The cheap ones work better for finding cemeteries!
Another Option: Use a PC!
Delorme Earthmate
Simple to use
Inexpensive at $65
Requires a laptop or handheld computer
Advanced GPS Tools
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
USGS TerraServer Maps
Maple Grove Cem., Bangor, ME
From GNIS
Longitude - 68.81017W
Latitude - 44.85446N
Maple Grove Cem., Bangor, ME
From TerraServer
Longitude - 68.81017W
Latitude - 44.85446N
What Other Electronics Should You Take to the Cemetery?
Walkie-Talkies!
Prices vary from $20 to $75 per pair
Suggestion: Do not buy the cheapest models as you will be disappointed!
Wireless Modems
Full wireless modem capability via laptop card
Surf the Web, search online databases, send/receive e-mails, and more
DSL speed! $60/month,
unlimited usage
Handheld Wireless
Combine a handheld PDA with a cell phone!
This unit contains my complete genealogy database of 3,000+ persons!
Handheld Wireless
It also functions as a high-speed wireless modem with a laptop PC.
$39.95/month for unlimited high-speed EDGE data service.
Now you can...
Check an online database while you are still at the courthouse
Do genealogy searches while riding a commuter train
Send/receive e-mails at any convenient time
Summary
High-Tech devices are becoming commonplace in American life
Many devices are useful for genealogy and other uses
Prices continue to fall
What will the next year bring?
Stay tuned!
http://www.eogn.com
Today’s handouts and slides are available at:
http://www.eogn.com/handouts/grandpa
