Генеалогічне товариство ЮТА: еволюція інформаційних технологій

Abstract

The research purpose was to study the evolution of information technologies of the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU; now – FamilySearch International) and familiarize the Ukrainian reader with them. The research methodology took into consideration information technologies development in historical retrospect. The scientifi c novelty was based on the analysis of publications about GSU in Ukraine and abroad. Conclusions. GSU is one of the world leaders in genealogical research. Yet the results of this research create an image of GSU as a world-class scientifi c and research company for software and information technologies development. Throughout its history, GSU has mastered the path from paper, through microfi lm and to digital fi le, from DOS to Windows, from disks to the Internet, from website «lockups» to responding instantly, and from outsourcing to in-house digital storage and tape libraries. GSU cooperates with the most prominent corporations in the sphere of information storage and management. For more than half a century, independently and in cooperation, the GSU has developed, tested and put into operation many variants of computer programs and technologies, including the universally accepted specifi cation for the exchange of genealogical data between computer programs of diff erent manufacturers – GEDCOM. GSU focused on processing and organizing vast arrays of genealogical information, indexing, searching, providing diff erentiated access for users via the Internet, and fi nally, guaranteed storage and backup. In these areas GSU creatively applied state-of-the-art technologies.