February 27 marked the close of RootsTech Connect 2021. This was the first year this conference with hundreds of thousands of attendees was held as a virtual conference. Overall, the conference was deemed a success even though there was no way to meaningfully compare it to the in-person conferences of previous years. However, more than a half-million people registered around the world, making this the biggest genealogy event ever.
No matter how you measure it, I’d say the virtual conference was a success as it appears that the conference met most of the objectives (or maybe ALL of the objectives) of Family Search, the conference organizers.
Rather than my writing about this conference, I’d like to offer a “virtual” report and let others write about it. Following is a list of just a few of the many online articles written about this year’s virtual conference. If these articles do not tell you everything you want to know about last week’s events, go to your favorite search engine and search for “RootsTech Connect 2021” to find hundreds more articles about it.
One thing about a virtual technical conference with more than a half-million people attendees: those attendees know how to document what happened with technology… ON-LINE!
RootsTech Connect 2021 (written before the conference was held but provides a good overall introduction to the plans): https://rootstech.net/
Welcome to the Family (written as RootsTech Connect 2021 was drawing to a close): https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/rtc2021/home
RootsTech Connect 2021 sessions: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/RootsTech/2021/RootsTech-Connect-2021-Sessions-eng.pdf
Hundreds of thousands attend all-virtual RootsTech Connect 2021: https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/hundreds-of-thousands-attend-all-virtual-rootstech-connect-2021/article_d1cb7fc2-0b46-50dc-a041-1fce0bc634ee.html
Dozens of YouTube videos about RootsTech Connect 2021 and I suspect more videos will, still be added in the next few days: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=RootsTech+Connect+2021
3 RootsTech keynotes explain why knowing your family history matters.
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/2/18/22286410/what-3-rootstech-keynote-speakers-learned-family-story-why-genealogy-matters-history-ancestry
‘How Does Your Name Sound’ and other new innovations to see at RootsTech Connect at https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/2/25/22297651/rootstech-connect-genealogy-virtual-how-does-your-name-sound-other-new-innovations-technology
Vivid-Pix Brings Family History Home at RootsTech Connect 2021 with Free Education & Research: https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/233364/Vivid-Pix-Brings-Family-History-Home-at-RootsTech-Connect-2021-with-Free-Education-Research
And finally, 3-day RootsTech Connect was simply the ‘ribbon cutting’ for what’s to come (a peek at plans for future RootsTech plans): https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2021-02-27/rootstech-connect-virtual-global-event-one-million-participants-205560
Most of the sessions from the virtual, global family event will be available to watch on-demand throughout 2021. Keep an eye on https://www.RootsTech.org.