Not content to merely “talk tech,” RootsTech 2014, hosted by FamilySearch, is harnessing technology to make the February national family history conference available worldwide. This week I attended an online meeting for speakers whose sessions will be recorded and streamed, and learned that over 450 sites will be accessing RootsTech for their own family history fairs.
The Roots Tech Team announced worldwide participation by LDS Family History Centers and local genealogy societies:
Twelve sessions will be streamed live and made available to visitors of the RootsTech website. Over forty presentations will be offered to organizers of off-site family history fairs, including my Friday presentation: How to Scan an Elephant: Digitize Your Family History from Artifact to Zombie. I’m excited to be part of this innovative program and be in Salt Lake City for the fourth RootsTech conference.
Hats off to the organizers of this colossal endeavor. Each recorded session will be translated into ten international languages to make the content more accessible to viewers. I’ve been scrambling to submit my materials for the pre-conference work needed to translate and publicize the session choices available for the off-site family history fairs.
RootsTech 2013 counted over 6,700 registered attendees and nearly 14,000 viewings of live-streamed sessions. By adding the international family history events, RootsTech 2014 must be nearly the largest family history conference worldwide.
RootsTech 2014 will take place in the East Wing of the Salt Palace Convention Center offering bigger classrooms and a larger exhibit hall. Local conference hotels are offering special conference rates with extended days (helpful for a little research the Family History Library).
Registration is now open, but special events are filling quickly. Register now for this great genealogy event!
Hi Becky! Good question! I don't know but will ask the Roots Tech Team about the availability of recordings after the conference. I know you've tackled a big project; hope it's moving forward!
Denise, if your "How to Scan an Elephant" class is being sent to the satellite Family History Centers, will it also be available by video after the Conference? I registered only for the Getting Started track, to be economical so I won't be able to attend your class. But sure hope to learn what you're sharing! For a year I've been working on scanning my parents' lives.