Two data standards, two database systems
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:26 am
Two data standards, two database systems
Raising the data standard AND increasing research output
We need a central system that encourages data stability
Based on recent discussions, I think one of the basic issues still under the radar of major Church genealogy systems is that we are using two very different data standards in different settings, but only officially recognize and assist one standard in centralized systems. We have one fairly relaxed standard for most temple ordinances, but a much more demanding unofficial standard for family histories (and related sealings).
It would be very helpful to officially recognize the higher standard for family histories and sealings and to provide central systems that encourage and support it. I believe the situation needs to change, so that instead of finding the best genealogy data on home PCs, as it is now, we find even higher quality data on a central system in the future. The extensive collections of complete, current, reliable, incrementally improvable, peer-reviewable, unduplicated, lineage-linked family genealogy data found on PCs should be found in a new centralized system in even more robust form.
If someone is considering creating a new “client-side” file system to replace PAF, before that happens I hope they will consider the option of leaving PC-PAF essentially as it is, and using the available programming resources to add all the new functionality centrally where it is most needed, in my opinion. These new functions can only be fully effective at a single central site where all genealogists can contribute and benefit.
The home PC-PAF collections would continue to be the source, the original assembly point, for most new genealogy data on the central system, and might continue to be the gold standard for the currency and accuracy for some parts of it, such as new births into the family. But the central database could eventually integrate far more data than could ever be assembled on any PC, and would support the linking of many more types of data to individuals (using storage on many other servers). At some point in time, the PC-based database programs may evolve into mostly being used as places to store downloaded copies of the central data, available for family review in offline mode.
(My note gradually grew into nearly 4 pages, so I put the rest on my website)
MORE......http://www.genreg.com/study/20070204Two ... ndards.htm
Raising the data standard AND increasing research output
We need a central system that encourages data stability
Based on recent discussions, I think one of the basic issues still under the radar of major Church genealogy systems is that we are using two very different data standards in different settings, but only officially recognize and assist one standard in centralized systems. We have one fairly relaxed standard for most temple ordinances, but a much more demanding unofficial standard for family histories (and related sealings).
It would be very helpful to officially recognize the higher standard for family histories and sealings and to provide central systems that encourage and support it. I believe the situation needs to change, so that instead of finding the best genealogy data on home PCs, as it is now, we find even higher quality data on a central system in the future. The extensive collections of complete, current, reliable, incrementally improvable, peer-reviewable, unduplicated, lineage-linked family genealogy data found on PCs should be found in a new centralized system in even more robust form.
If someone is considering creating a new “client-side” file system to replace PAF, before that happens I hope they will consider the option of leaving PC-PAF essentially as it is, and using the available programming resources to add all the new functionality centrally where it is most needed, in my opinion. These new functions can only be fully effective at a single central site where all genealogists can contribute and benefit.
The home PC-PAF collections would continue to be the source, the original assembly point, for most new genealogy data on the central system, and might continue to be the gold standard for the currency and accuracy for some parts of it, such as new births into the family. But the central database could eventually integrate far more data than could ever be assembled on any PC, and would support the linking of many more types of data to individuals (using storage on many other servers). At some point in time, the PC-based database programs may evolve into mostly being used as places to store downloaded copies of the central data, available for family review in offline mode.
(My note gradually grew into nearly 4 pages, so I put the rest on my website)
MORE......http://www.genreg.com/study/20070204Two ... ndards.htm