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“Family Search: What’s In It For You, and, Can You Help”

Randy Wilson
1/9/16

Categories: LDS, IR

Talk Abstract:
FamilySearch has been helping people do their family history since 1892. This presentation provides an overview and unique perspective of what family history work is and how FamilySearch is involved in various aspects of it. We will discuss how FamilySearch discovers, acquires, preserves and scans original records; how these records are indexed by volunteers to make them available for searching, hinting, and linking into the Family Tree; and how the Family Tree helps everyone pick up where everyone else left off. We will also take a look at preserving your photos and stories, the research Wiki, and how you can preserve and share your personal research in “Genealogies”. All along the way, we will be showing what FamilySearch provides to you, and show how you can most effectively participate to help yourself and others discover our families.

Speaker Bio:
Randy Wilson is the Information Architect for FamilySearch, where he has worked since 2003. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brigham Young University, where he did research in machine learning and neural networks. He was able to put this research to use in improving the matching algorithms used in possible duplicates and record hinting at FamilySearch. In recent years, he has helped develop data models to allow the Family Tree to link to records in order to help family history work become more efficient and more solidly built on sources. He lives in Riverton, Utah with his wife Linette and their five children.

Meeting Agenda
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NOTICE: This presentation is part of a set of over 400 presentations on genealogy and family history produced by "UVTAGG: The Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group".
For full details and to join, see the website https://uvtagg.org.