Comments on: A new face to genealogy http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/ Genealogy anywhere. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:17:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Ben http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-20393 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:48:02 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-20393 Jay: If it's going to be closed source, then it should at least be free like Google or Facebook or Flickr. Danno: C'mon, graphic design doesn't cost <i>that</i> much. And just having the cash doesn't necessarily mean you'll end up with good design. :) Andy: It's a nice beginning, but it's rather slow and not all that appealing aesthetically. (Facebook apps need to fit in with the Facebook look; iFamilyTree doesn't.) Perhaps with a redesign and some optimization... Ray: We're not saying that Facebook itself ought to be a genealogy database app; the sources and ancestor info would go within the app itself, not on Facebook proper. There's a difference. :) I'm not so sure that a site like this necessarily needs to start as a genealogy app -- it could, certainly, but I could see it just as easily going the other way round. In fact, genealogy from a social networking perspective would open up new ideas and attitudes that we haven't even thought of yet. I say it ought to be explored thoroughly before we dismiss it out of hand. Jay: If it’s going to be closed source, then it should at least be free like Google or Facebook or Flickr.

Danno: C’mon, graphic design doesn’t cost that much. And just having the cash doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up with good design. :)

Andy: It’s a nice beginning, but it’s rather slow and not all that appealing aesthetically. (Facebook apps need to fit in with the Facebook look; iFamilyTree doesn’t.) Perhaps with a redesign and some optimization…

Ray: We’re not saying that Facebook itself ought to be a genealogy database app; the sources and ancestor info would go within the app itself, not on Facebook proper. There’s a difference. :) I’m not so sure that a site like this necessarily needs to start as a genealogy app — it could, certainly, but I could see it just as easily going the other way round. In fact, genealogy from a social networking perspective would open up new ideas and attitudes that we haven’t even thought of yet. I say it ought to be explored thoroughly before we dismiss it out of hand.

]]> by: Ray Gurganus http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-19954 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:17:06 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-19954 I'll repeat what I've said in replies to other messages here... It may look nice, but facebook is still not a genealogy database application for documenting family history. I don't see anywhere to enter sources (what is genealogy without sources?)... it requires a valid email address per person - how many ancestors do you know who have email? I could go on.... I believe a system such as this needs to start with a full featured genealogy system, and add social networking features, rather than a social networking site adding bits and pieces of a genealogy application. See the site I have put together (and continue to upgrade) - it has all of the above. I’ll repeat what I’ve said in replies to other messages here… It may look nice, but facebook is still not a genealogy database application for documenting family history. I don’t see anywhere to enter sources (what is genealogy without sources?)… it requires a valid email address per person - how many ancestors do you know who have email? I could go on….

I believe a system such as this needs to start with a full featured genealogy system, and add social networking features, rather than a social networking site adding bits and pieces of a genealogy application. See the site I have put together (and continue to upgrade) - it has all of the above.

]]> by: Andy http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-19934 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:22:31 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-19934 Guys, Take a look at http://apps.facebook.com/ifamilytree/ They are killing it on Facebook and have alot of the functionality described herein. I have spoken to the developer and all the other things requested here (like Gedgcom Import)are on the way. The site can also be accessed at www.ifamily.com. Have fun with it..I have found it quite addictive! Guys,

Take a look at http://apps.facebook.com/ifamilytree/
They are killing it on Facebook and have alot of the functionality described herein. I have spoken to the developer and all the other things requested here (like Gedgcom Import)are on the way. The site can also be accessed at www.ifamily.com.

Have fun with it..I have found it quite addictive!

]]> by: Danno http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18945 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:51:09 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18945 Jay: True. I'll never upload my info somewhere that doesn't preserve my copyright ownership. Ben: :-) I'm sure that if WebBiographies had $20 million in VC cash to spend, you'd like their graphic design. :-) Money can buy the best developers... Jay: True. I’ll never upload my info somewhere that doesn’t preserve my copyright ownership.

Ben: :-) I’m sure that if WebBiographies had $20 million in VC cash to spend, you’d like their graphic design. :-) Money can buy the best developers…

]]> by: Jay Holtslander http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18297 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:52:20 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18297 I just checked out Geni. It's VERY cool but without import and export options. It's useless to me. I'm also not liking the closed source/potentially commercial nature of it. From the site: "Geni was founded by former executives and early employees of PayPal, Yahoo! Groups, Ebay, and Tribe. It is backed by venture capital firms Founders Fund and Charles River Ventures." Sounds like some venture capitalists think so too. I just checked out Geni. It’s VERY cool but without import and export options. It’s useless to me.

I’m also not liking the closed source/potentially commercial nature of it.

From the site:
“Geni was founded by former executives and early employees of PayPal, Yahoo! Groups, Ebay, and Tribe. It is backed by venture capital firms Founders Fund and Charles River Ventures.”

Sounds like some venture capitalists think so too.

]]> by: Ben http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18211 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:41:25 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18211 Danno: Thanks. :) If you're fine with using it, then by all means, go ahead and use it. Being picky isn't always a good thing. ;) Joel: Well, I really wish I had the time and energy to collaborate on that, but I'll have to decline. I will, however, continue to blog as new ideas strike me, and if anyone else on here is interested in helping you, I'm sure they can contact you at <a href="http://www.joelnothman.com/" rel="nofollow">your website</a>. Best of luck! I hope you succeed wildly. :) Danno: Thanks. :) If you’re fine with using it, then by all means, go ahead and use it. Being picky isn’t always a good thing. ;)

Joel: Well, I really wish I had the time and energy to collaborate on that, but I’ll have to decline. I will, however, continue to blog as new ideas strike me, and if anyone else on here is interested in helping you, I’m sure they can contact you at your website. Best of luck! I hope you succeed wildly. :)

]]> by: Joel http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18169 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:09:02 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-18169 I thought of the same idea. Also being (on occasion) a web developer with some interest in genealogy (but much less knowledge), I would entertain collaborating with you in design and development of a Facebook app to that purpose. Let me know if you are interested. I would have to start doing it over the next few weeks before other things get busy. I thought of the same idea. Also being (on occasion) a web developer with some interest in genealogy (but much less knowledge), I would entertain collaborating with you in design and development of a Facebook app to that purpose. Let me know if you are interested. I would have to start doing it over the next few weeks before other things get busy.

]]> by: Danno http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17992 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 05:05:38 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17992 I know what you mean, but I guess I'm a little more forgiving, providing it'll do what I need it to do. :-) I was able to make a memorial for a friend of mine who was killed in a car crash a couple of months ago. She had friends and family all over, and we were all able to leave our remembrances together on her memorial page. Here's my site there: http://bio.webbiographies.com/dsargent Love your blog, by the way. :-) I know what you mean, but I guess I’m a little more forgiving, providing it’ll do what I need it to do. :-)

I was able to make a memorial for a friend of mine who was killed in a car crash a couple of months ago. She had friends and family all over, and we were all able to leave our remembrances together on her memorial page.

Here’s my site there: http://bio.webbiographies.com/dsargent

Love your blog, by the way. :-)

]]> by: Ben http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17975 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:46:55 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17975 Danno: I just checked them out, and what I have to say to them is what I have to say to pretty much all the sites I've come across so far: their intent is good, but their implementation is lacking. Being a designer, I tend to focus first on the aesthetic appearance and information design of the site, and while that may appear to be a partly superficial perspective, I think it reveals a <i>lot</i> about the site or application. And so far I'm just not impressed. The only site I've seen that doesn't make me cringe is <a href="http://geni.com/" rel="nofollow">Geni</a>, which I haven't really looked at in detail but I do plan to in the near future. And all the rest? I wish I could commend them, but the words just aren't coming. I don't know if it's just the graphic design on all these sites that bothers me -- to a large extent that probably is indeed the case, but my gut feeling is that there are other pieces missing. Too cluttered (conceptually, not just graphically). The wrong perspective. Too many of the wrong features. Not smooth enough. All of which could just as easily mean that none of them fit my own internal vision of what a genealogy app should be, and that we're muddling about in the realm of personal preference. (But then again I do think I have good taste. ;)) Danno: I just checked them out, and what I have to say to them is what I have to say to pretty much all the sites I’ve come across so far: their intent is good, but their implementation is lacking. Being a designer, I tend to focus first on the aesthetic appearance and information design of the site, and while that may appear to be a partly superficial perspective, I think it reveals a lot about the site or application. And so far I’m just not impressed. The only site I’ve seen that doesn’t make me cringe is Geni, which I haven’t really looked at in detail but I do plan to in the near future. And all the rest? I wish I could commend them, but the words just aren’t coming.

I don’t know if it’s just the graphic design on all these sites that bothers me — to a large extent that probably is indeed the case, but my gut feeling is that there are other pieces missing. Too cluttered (conceptually, not just graphically). The wrong perspective. Too many of the wrong features. Not smooth enough.

All of which could just as easily mean that none of them fit my own internal vision of what a genealogy app should be, and that we’re muddling about in the realm of personal preference. (But then again I do think I have good taste. ;))

]]> by: Danno http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17928 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:31:29 +0000 http://www.beyondproject.org/2007/07/12/a-new-face-to-genealogy/#comment-17928 WebBiographies.com has been doing something similar for a while. And they're at work on GEDCOM import/export too. :-) Have you checked them out yet? WebBiographies.com has been doing something similar for a while.

And they’re at work on GEDCOM import/export too. :-)

Have you checked them out yet?

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