RootsTech 2013 will be doing something brand new. They are having a “Developer Day”. It will take place on March 22, 2012. Genealogy and technology have combined in many ways, and RootsTech provides a collaborative environment for both genealogists and the developers of the technology that genealogists use.
RootsTech 2013 is going to take place on March 21, March 22, and March 23 of 2013. This time, they are doing something that they have never done before. There will be a “Developer Day” held on March 22, 2012. It will include a series of presentations that will be of interest to developers – those who create and maintain the technology that genealogists use.
The schedule has been created. However, there could be some changes made between now and when RootsTech 2013 begins. Here are a few of the “Developer Day” presentations that look very interesting. This blog should give you a basic idea of what to expect on “Developer Day” of RootsTech 2013.
Usability and Digital Newspapers: Envisioning User Needs for Engaging Online Newspapers, will be presented by Ana Krahmer. Genealogists today tend to search online for the information they need from old newspapers, instead of seeking out microfiche or a paper copy of an old newspaper.
The FamilySearch Developer Platform will be presented by Ryan Heaton. My best guess is that this one will give developers information about the platform that FamilySearch uses on its website, so that developers can build from it and make additions to it.
Other interesting opportunities include: BYU Tech Workshop, FamilySearch Certified Clients and Tools, The Genealogy Workflow Model and What Website Developers Need to Learn from Power Users.
There will also be a panel called Building Apps in the Family History Market. It will be presented by David Pugmire and Brian Edwards. This is the only panel discussion in “Developer Day”.
“Developer Day” is a series of presentations set up for people who develop software, make apps, and keep genealogy websites running. You can think of it as the “nuts and bolts” behind the genealogy websites, apps, and other online resources, that you use every day.
This is the first time that RootsTech has specifically put together a track of presentations for people who were developers, (but perhaps not necessarily genealogists). They can come to RootsTech 2013 and find presentations that are relevant to what they do.
Image by Gary Cooper on Flickr