For thousands of years, stories have been the ultimate source and basic instruction for human emotion and understanding. Stories operate on many levels and communicate on multiple ways that we as humans understand and appreciate.
What makes family stories great is that they are real. These accounts capture our attention and teach us lessons in layers, while the most powerful experiences linger in our memories for years. Stories are easy to share, and become reference points for physical, emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual connections in our lives.
Historians are systematically collecting living people's testimony and life experiences while attempting to verify and analyze their findings. People's stories are unique and valuable treasures for families and communities.
It is time to reevaluate how information such as personal narratives and memories are passed on between generations moving forward in a digital age. This thesis research will help aide families in capturing these stories the moment they happen and will create a resource for social historians, archivists, independent researchers, educators and future family members, offering more insight and guidance into everyday life in the future.