On Sunday, several of us gathered to scan and chat via the Gizmo Project and also Windows Live Messenger for our monthly Scanfest. Susan Kitchen of Family Oral History Project and 2020 Hindsight was our gracious and enthusiastic host from Southern California. We were joined by Amy Crooks of Untangled Family Roots in Northern Idaho, and also Donna Wendt of Hawaii who told us about an interactive genealogy educational website called FamilyHistoryLiveOnline.com. I haven't had time to fully investigate the site...maybe Tim will review it for us!
I must say that actually being able to hear the voice of another genea-blogger adds a whole new dimension to chatting. Regular chatting, despite its name, uses only text messages from one user to another, while programs like the Gizmo Project allow chatters to do exactly just that: chat! The software was easy to download, easy to use, and the reception was clear (great for someone who is hard-of-hearing, like myself!). I called into the conference by phone using my 10-10 long-distance code for a cheap rate because my desktop doesn't have a microphone, and it was too much hassle to hook my laptop (with a microphone) to the scanner; besides, I didn't have a headset, which is recommended. I wouldn't mind purchasing a headseat and the software needed for my desktop to be able to use this technology in the future.
While experimenting with the new technology and listening and participating in the conversations, I was able to nearly finish my scanning project of photos and documents from my step-grandfather's estate. Most of the documents and photos are available on my Picasa Web Albums.
I hope you'll join us for the next Scanfest, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, 2007 from 11 AM - 2 PM, Pacific Daylight Time.
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