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?

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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!
Tools for today’s discussion

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Laptop computers
Handheld computers
Scanners
Digital cameras
GPS
Communications Devices
Laptop Computers
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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

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Tiny
Can go with you
anywhere
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Limited functionality
Limited storage
(but improving)
Palm versus PocketPC
Genealogy Software for Palm OS

GedStar
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Pro - $29.95
Plus - $19.95
Basic - $13.95
My Roots – $24.95
PocketPC Handhelds
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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
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Basic Edition $20
Advanced Edition $35
The Pocket Genealogist

3-Generation Screen
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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
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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:
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More capability
Lower prices
What’s New in Digital Cameras?
More pixels!
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Typical example:
Minolta Dimage S414
4 Megapixel CCD
Price: roughly $200
What’s New in Digital Cameras?
More pixels!
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Nikon D70
6.1 Megapixel CCD
Price: $899.99 +
Image Storage
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Early cameras
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Stored images in memory
Required cables to copy to
a PC
Today’s cameras store
images in:
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Flash Memory cards
Floppy disk
Memory Sticks
Mini-CD
How About Batteries?
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Early cameras and some modern ones used
expensive rechargeable batteries
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Many now use penlight cells
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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

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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 Satellite
systems
 Identify your location
any 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!
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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
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…vary from $90.00
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(at Wal-Mart)
GPS Prices
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…to $899
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(also at Wal-Mart)
GPS Prices
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…to more than
$2,000
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In this Lexus
NOTE: The cheap
ones work better for
finding cemeteries!
Another Option: Use a PC!
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Delorme Earthmate
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Simple to use
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Inexpensive at $65
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Requires a laptop or
handheld computer
Advanced GPS Tools
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Geographic Names
Information System
(GNIS)
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USGS TerraServer
Maps
Maple Grove Cem., Bangor, ME
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From GNIS
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Longitude 68.81017W
Latitude - 44.85446N
Maple Grove Cem., Bangor, ME
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From TerraServer
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Longitude 68.81017W
Latitude - 44.85446N
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What Other Electronics Should
You Take to the Cemetery?
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Walkie-Talkies!
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Prices vary from $20
to $75 per pair

Suggestion: Do not
buy the cheapest
models as you will be
disappointed!
Wireless Modems
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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
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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