How Technology Is Impacting Genealogy

A resident of Putnam, Connecticut, Anthony Cosentino is a social studies and sociology teacher at Woonsocket High School. Anthony Cosentino is also involved in various genealogical research, which has seen a major boom thanks to expanding technologies.

Technology is growing at an exponential rate, and the last decade has seen technology impact genealogical research in much the same way it has advanced many other fields. It is now easier than ever to access records and information thanks to new technologies.

Online genealogical databases have had the largest impact regarding the ease of doing research. There are numerous free and paid databases available that have the sole purpose of collecting and storing family histories and information. Some of these platforms allow users to upload new images and information to allow for even more detail.

The cloud has helped genealogical research greatly by allowing for a major boost in accessibility and data storage. Before cloud technology, records on closed systems were nearly impossible to access. Now vital information is accessible and shareable across the globe instantaneously.

Software for organizing all of this research has also improved. Spreadsheets and apps are available to keep researchers organized and on task. As there is such a large quantity of information they must deal with, these tools allow researchers to access, store, and correlate information quickly and easily.