The following news release was received from Bill Forsyth. This announcement is NOT the same as the BYU Computerized Genealogy Conference on March 13-14. The BYU Family History Technology Workshop is a separate event that will be held a day earlier (March 12).
Provo, Utah (February 26, 2009) – Brigham Young University announced today the program agenda for its Ninth Annual Workshop on Technology for Family History and Genealogical Research. The day-long workshop will take place on March 12, 2006 in the BYU Conference Center, 770 East University Parkway, Provo, Utah.
The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. Bertrand Desjardins, Senior Researcher at the Université de Montréal, Canada. His topic will be, “A Population Register of the Historical French-Canadian Population of Quebec: Principles and Methods.” Dr. Desjardins holds a PhD in demography from the Université Lumière Lyon 2 and is the author of numerous scientific publications centered on the study of the Canadian and Quebec populations. He has been associated all his professional life with a major project aimed at setting up a database of the entire French-Canadian population of Quebec from its beginnings in 1608. This database generates in-depth information allowing studies in the fields of demography, history, anthropology and population genetics.
The luncheon speaker will be Dr. Charles Knutson, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. He will discuss “The 20-Minute Genealogist.”
Morning and afternoon technical sessions will feature more than a dozen presentations and demos on current and emerging research work and experiences with technology that support family history and genealogy. This year’s presentations will include the following topics:
- Interactive Smoothing of Handwritten Text Images Using a Bilateral Filter
- Word-Spotting for Automatic Tag Suggestion in the BYU Historic Journals Project
- Deciphering Old German Documents Using the Online German Script Tutorial
- Using a Hidden-Markov Model in Semi-Automatic Indexing of Historical Handwritten Records
- The New Immigrant Ancestors Project Software: A Web-Based Approach to Data Extraction and Retrieval
- Domain-Independent Data Extraction: Person Names
- Name, Date and Place Recognition in Unstructured Text
- Implementing a Surname-Study Website with Drupal
- Low-Cost, On-Demand Film Digitization and the Online Delivery
- Digitizing Records
- Lineage Linked Cousins and Social Networking with the FamilySearch API
- Mobility and Accessibility: The Rosetta Stone Approach to Genealogical Web Design
The workshop will conclude with a moderated panel discussion on the “Conversion and Publication of Genealogical Content: Best Practices, Challenges and Unmet Needs.” Executives from Footnote.com, Huntsman Cancer Institute, ProQuest and The Generations Network will share their experiences and answer questions.
“The Ninth Annual Workshop continues our tradition of providing informative and fascinating presentations about cutting-edge technology for use in family history research. This year’s program includes many all-new topics from carefully selected white papers submitted by professors and students, and by private and commercial organizations,” said Dr. Randy Wilson, Workshop Chair and Senior Engineer at FamilySearch.org.
The workshop is open to all that enjoy presenting and learning about emerging technological research, as it applies to genealogy. Pre-registration is encouraged and the cost is $75 per person ($85 for on-site registration). Full-time students can register at the discounted rate of $35, with current ID. The registration includes a printed syllabus, along with a continental breakfast, catered lunch and afternoon snacks. To register online by March 11, visit http://www.fht.byu.edu/ or call BYU Conferences and Workshops at (801) 422-8925.