http://rootstech.org/video/4050134760001
"30 Pieces of Tech I Can't Live Without" (58-min. video)
presented Thursday 12 Feb 2015, by D. Joshua Taylor, and sponsored by FamilySearch.
My rough notes were typed on Notepad as I watched; later copied here:
He takes a tablet everywhere; rarely uses his laptop anymore.
Favorite apps: MoodBoard and FlipBoard.
Dropbox -- cloud storage; no need to synchronize on multiple devices.
Evernote for notes, to-do lists, collaboration; (saved jpeg snip:
Roots5-videoSlide-Evernote-JoshTaylor-30techMustHave)
Social media: Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, ...
Spreadsheets: Excel or Google Docs; organize & prioritize (sort).
FH software -- uses them all; manages relationships; never perfect, but needs to be close.
Online subscriptions -- current research focus;
"searching is old-school now in genealogy; it's what you do with it."
Breaks up family tree into projects, and has several smaller trees online.
Portable scanner -- beyond the mobile camera: HoverCam and FlipPal.
Library card -- access to archived-resource collections,
e.g. American Antiquarian Society
JSTOR: scholarly journals (art, music, religion)
Dedicated Email to separate genealogy from personal, business, spouse's.
Portable external drive -- keep current (model)
WordPress and Blogger: plug-ins help FH; WordPress widgets; put partial family tree(s) up to share for collaboration.
Google maps, drive, books, advanced-search pages/options;
to find it, (of course) Google: advanced search.
Try starting with results on page 10, and work back to page 1.
Webinars: e.g. how to use gen software; ISGS Webinars; Genea Webinars has calendars.
Google webinars, e.g. "Preserving Your Personal Photographs"
WorldCat connects research libraries world-wide, including SLC; not all is online; e.g. Kingsley genealogy 1630-1961
ArchiveGrid -- the "WorldCat of archives"; "find archives near you".
Find a Society through Federation of Genealogical Societies.
DNA "testing is a necessary tool now for genealogy." Test many places;
"2015: Most bang for DNA buck" blog post.
Web clipping software; he often does quick capture;
Snagit captures website or other scrolling screen completely.
Book cataloging -- personal collection; beyond docs & books; stories of items collected; LibraryThing, Collectorz.com, goodreads (what are others reading); alternative to reading blog after blog to catch up on things;
inventory for when it's time to distribute things to others.
Task management tools -- what works for your style;
Trello -- online collaboration; set up lists for projects and individuals, etc.;
he has Trello board for "the dream trip"; color codes; list for each FH site.
Image editing software -- restore & repair, recolor, embed source citations on top of docs; e.g. yellow box to enhance microfilm (vs. ylw legal pad.)
Skype for interviewing relatives, reference help, distant cousins;
talk to archivists & librarians before going to there to research.
Audio and video -- move beyond docs; produce your own research-experience YouTube video, e.g., like "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Cyndis List -- best resource for lists; odd obscure things; occupations, entertainment, museums, etc.
Portable power essential for travel.
Physical labels -- contents, power cords, color-coding.
Outdated technology -- e.g. he still has floppy disks at home;
Danish research notes in PAF 2, e.g.
Distractions: group IMs, social groups, online games;
10-min break may help you bounce back, refocus, and find.
Final words: "to each his own"; tech is constantly changing;
read in-between reviews (not 1-star or 5-star), and ask around.
Four of fourteen conference sponsors. Images courtesy rootstech.org
