Exploring Ancestral Roots Together

Overview

OurBeginnings is a revolutionary application designed for group demos, facilitating a collective exploration of ancestral roots while prioritizing user security and privacy. Through integration with FamilySearch, a prominent genealogical platform, the application enables users to connect to their FamilySearch accounts via OAuth 2.0. It then retrieves the birthplaces of the user's nearest six generations of ancestors through the FamilySearch API. These ancestral birthplaces are subsequently displayed as pins on an interactive map. Notably, in group sessions, every participant's ancestors' birthplaces contribute to creating a heatmap, showcasing commonalities and differences among participants.

Motivation

The motivation behind OurBeginnings stems from a desire to provide a unique and engaging platform for individuals to learn more about their ancestry while fostering a sense of unity and connection within a group setting. By visualizing ancestral birthplaces and aggregating them into a collective heatmap, the application not only educates users about their familial heritage but also highlights shared roots among diverse groups of people.

Key Features

1. OAuth 2.0 Integration with FamilySearch

• Seamless authentication process allowing users to securely log into their FamilySearch accounts within the application.

2. Ancestral Birthplace Retrieval

• Utilization of the FamilySearch API to gather the birthplace data of a user's nearest six generations of ancestors.

3. Interactive Map Visualization

• Displaying ancestral birthplaces as pins on an interactive map interface, providing users with a visual representation of their familial origins.

4. Heatmap Generation

• Aggregating ancestral birthplaces from all users within a session to create a heatmap, showcasing geographic concentrations and patterns of ancestral heritage.
• User Privacy: The heatmap is generated without any identifying information, ensuring that users' personal data remains private while contributing to the collective visualization.

5. Display at Events

• The generated heatmap is typically displayed on a large projector at big-scale events, allowing participants to collectively explore and appreciate their shared ancestral heritage.

6. Accessibility

• Used at events such as FSY, BYU New Student Orientation, and large-scale multi-stake YSA activities, each with thousands of concurrent users.
• Available for use in various group settings, both large and small.
• Accessible through the web at ourbeginnings.rll.byu.edu.

7. Development Constraints

• Security Measures: Ensuring the security of users is paramount, with stringent measures in place to safeguard user data during authentication and usage.
• Budget and Schedule: The project was developed in under a month with a strict budget of just 150 man-hours. The project was delivered on time and within budget.
• Scalability: The application is designed to scale efficiently, with the ability to accommodate a large number of users and data points without compromising performance.

7. Technology Stack

• Frontend: Developed using React and Vite in TypeScript.
• Backend: Written in Python and deployed on AWS Lambda.
• Database: Utilizes DynamoDB.
• Hosting: Hosted as a static site on AWS S3.
• Continuous Integration/Deployment: Implemented using GitHub Actions.

Impact

OurBeginnings has made a significant impact in fostering a deeper understanding of ancestral heritage while promoting unity and connection within diverse communities. By enabling users to collectively explore their ancestral roots and visualize shared heritage through the heatmap feature, the application has become a valuable tool for group demos and events across different organizations and institutions.

Future Directions

• Enhanced User Experience: Continuously improving the user interface and interaction design to provide a seamless and intuitive experience for users.
• Integration with Additional Genealogical Platforms: Expanding the application's capabilities by integrating with other genealogical platforms to offer users a broader scope of ancestral exploration.
• Community Engagement: Engaging with users and community feedback to incorporate new features and functionalities that cater to the evolving needs and interests of the user base.

Conclusion

OurBeginnings represents a groundbreaking initiative in the realm of ancestral exploration and community engagement. By harnessing the power of technology and collaboration, the application empowers users to embark on a journey of self-discovery while fostering connections with others through shared heritage. As the project continues to evolve and expand its reach, it stands poised to make a lasting impact on how we perceive and celebrate our ancestral roots, all while prioritizing the security and privacy of its users.