PEERING INTO THE FUTURE by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG, Co-editor, RootsWeb Review Recently Mattel, the toy maker (Hot Wheels, Ken and Barbie), announced it would buy The Learning Company, Inc. Earlier in 1998, The Learning Company purchased Mindscape (producer of Family Tree Creator) and Broderbund (producer of Family Tree Maker), and then in December it acquired Palladium Interactive (producer of Ultimate Family Tree). What does this mean to genealogists? It appears Mattel is going to wind up with all of the genealogy toys, so to speak -- owning the major popular genealogy software programs and the companies that produce most of the genealogy CDs. Additionally, the "Wall Street Journal" in its December 17, 1998, issue announced that CMG Information Services, Inc., will invest $10 million in Ancestry for a 30 percent stake in that company. CMG is betting that genealogy is about to make a big breakthrough on the Web. However, the CMG investors are not talking about helping you find that long-lost ancestor when they refer to a "breakthrough." They mean making money. Where is all this going in 1999? I have as much trouble peering into the future as I do digging up the past, but it appears to me that the costs of computer genealogy (software and CDs) are likely to increase. Moreover, the price of admission to many genealogy sources on the Web is probably going to go up. Many surfers are already paying $5 to $10 per month ($60-$120 annually) to have access to various sources or finding aids. Many onliners are discovering their "free" Web space or e-mail account comes with hidden prices -- loaded with ads and their names and e-mail addresses sold to cyber-merchants. RootsWeb is one of the "Top 25" or so sites on the Internet and continues to swim against the tide by providing free access to huge amounts of genealogical data. Yet currently less than three percent of its users are providing financial support. If RootsWeb users contributed only $2-$3 per month ($24 to $36 annually) there would be adequate financing to maintain and build an incredible genealogical resource. If they don't, the future of Internet genealogy looks expensive. * * * * * DONATIONS TO HELP SUPPORT ROOTSWEB ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. For details about support levels/benefits and payment options, please visit: <http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html> or send e-mail to: <[email protected]>. RootsWeb's address is: RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative, P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798. (Please include your e-mail address on all correspondence and checks.)