The afternoon on Monday included a pretty hefty section of other technology sharing.

Folklorists rely on technology heavily. For example, in the past a field worker might need to bring--what amounted to--a recording studio into the field for conducting interviews. The advent of digital recorders and laptops reduces the difficulty in transporting these needed tools. Amongst the group were many digital cameras, iPods, digital recorders, and laptops. The direction the field is headed includes embracing new technologies in the service of preserving traditional culture.

The highlights included the UT Arts Council's transition from use of a FileMaker Pro database to Past Perfect for collections management. The Western Folklife Center have been engaged in Podcasting and have released 10 podcasts so far. The ND Arts Council have been creating enhanced CD's. This has led to funding and interesting collaborations and partnerships ranging from Fish and Game to Indian Reservations. The content has become curriculum for classrooms. Artists have used these CDs as an entry point for artists to get into AIE (Arts in Education) programs.

Themes discussed included:

• When trying to develop new tools for an existing audience, how does one reach that audience and bridge to a younger audience that isn't necessarily engaged/intersecting with folklife in general. Indeed most probably don't know what folklore/folklife is.
• How can one re purpose technologies for different tasks.
• How can you create interesting and vital partnerships with non-traditional partners to reduce costs and deploy new tools for educational purposes.

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