Making the most of Tranquility

As we approach New Zealand, we've been at sea since Tuesday and it's now Sunday (on the other side of the International Date Line).

Sea days on a cruise provide a unique opportunity to delve into books, unwind, and expand one's knowledge base.
I'm working on all of the above!

I recently finished reading "The Covenant of Water" by Abraham Verghese. I put in in my top 10 of all the books I've read. It's extremely well written but along with that I learned so much about India and we will be visiting there before the end of this segment of the world cruise.

Finding a new captivating book after completing a fantastic read can be a bit challenging. However, Kristin Hannah has recently released another historical fiction novel, which happens to be my favorite genre. The book, titled "The Women," delves into the experiences of combat nurses who served during the Vietnam War. It's remarkable how, 50 years after the United State's involvement in this conflict, we will soon be visiting Vietnam as part of our world cruise.

Fortunately, I am able to participate in the RootsTech convention, which is being held both virtually and in Salt Lake City, Utah. This allows me to delve into various sessions and keep abreast of the most recent developments in genealogy research and the utilization of DNA tools and applications. While I miss the in-person experience, being at sea provides ample time to expand my knowledge and discover new insights, especially in the area of A.I.

Some examples of AI tools used in genealogy research include:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP algorithms can extract key information from historical records, such as birth and death certificates, census records, and marriage licenses, saving researchers significant time and effort,
• Machine Learning Algorithms: These algorithms can predict relationships between family members based on genetic data, identify potential matches between individuals, and fill in missing information in family trees,
• Google Translate: Google Translate can speed up the research process by translating records from one language to another,
• Ancestry.com has developed a range of AI-powered tools for searching and analyzing genealogy records, including ones that predict the likelihood of two individuals being related based on shared genetic markers,
• MyHeritage has developed a suite of AI-powered tools for genealogy research, such as identifying ancestors in historical photographs, and
• FamilySearch uses machine learning algorithms to automatically transcribe historical documents and extract key data points, simplifying the process of finding relevant information and building family trees.

These AI tools are transforming genealogy research by enabling researchers to analyze vast amounts of data, extract key information from historical records, and predict relationships between family members based on genetic data. I'm anxious to put them to use in my own research. So much to do, so little time!