Genealogical Data Standards (RootsTech Session)

Notes from an open discussion moderated by the Ancestry Insider, held at the RootsTech 2011 Conference.

Attendees are invited to add notes of their own. A big "thank you" is due Pat M. for being our session scribe.

Whiteboard Photographs
Click on a thumbnail to see a larger-sized image.

Groupings

 * 1) Data interchange. Exchange uninterpreted data linked with standardized data.
 * 2) Searchability
 * 3) Documentation/Sources

Governance
Governance of a standard can be provided by:


 * 1) a vendor,
 * 2) a consortium of vendors,
 * 3) an existing standards body, or
 * 4) a new organization or community.

Perhaps a community led governance body started and assisted by FamilySearch would be appropriate.

Some issues might best be solved at different levels or by different groups.

Google
Robert Gardner of Google volunteered to help any vendors who want Google to index the content that is only accessible with a subscription. His contact information is: "Robert D. Gardner, Ph.D. Software Engineer 19540 Jamboree Road Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92612 rgardner@google.com"