Looking for comment

[jim2591]

I'm building a flash site and I'd like to discuss the premise. I have a copyright on the concept and own the name.
The site will be a "memorial to past lives in their own words." People can send videos, pics with text of their loved ones who have passed away or are terminally ill. In this way people can know and understand others and what they cared about.
They can also go to a cemetary input the last name and a security code into a lap or handheld pc, triangulate the signal via GPS to the server and bring up something about the person whose grave marker they are in front of.

I'm not a ghoul. Comment on the idea please.

Jim G

[AnotherDesigner]

Sounds interesting... Imagine it'd be difficult to set up, and I aren't sure as you'd get much use out of the "remote access" at a cemetary or such like.
Perhaps the best way of getting access on the person's grave would be to allow people access from home as well - that way people interested in Geneaology would also access your site... especially as it seems that information on graves and such like is particularly difficult to get hold of - at least it is here in the UK. Geneaology is also just taking off as one of the major 'hobbies' here too, so whether you'd like to approach the idea in this manner may be worth considering.

As for the idea of the messages, photographs and text to/of loved ones... Maybe. I'm not 100% convinced it's morally 'correct' though. Most of the time - if not all of the time - these messages are meant to be private between the dying/deceased and the recipient. If 'anybody' could access these messages whenever they want, you'd be crossing the 'privacy' boundary and potentially causing a lot of emotional turmoil and anguish to the relatives of the deceased...

The site might work if people needed a login code to access a particular video and/or message... so for example a relative in Australia could upload a video or pictures onto the site and enter the e-mail address of the recipient. The site sends the e-mail saying "there's a video waiting" and a special code which would be needed to access the video, which remains active as long as the video is on the website, thus allowing the recipient to view the video as he/she wishes, and no other "third party" being able to gain access to such private and emotional content.

[Mouse77e]

Ok, i am pritty much in line with AnotherDesigners comments. though i do think the idea has merit. BUT what is your site offering that intant messanger and the save function not offering?

if you take this on i would look at a colourfull celibration of life feel as opposed to an online-obituarys.com sort of feel?

and a choice as to wether to make each memorial public or private?

i'll have to think more about this one... BUT i do like the idea

Mouse

[jim2591]

I'm encouraged by your comments and have given them thought. Most people look at me when I discuss this "face to face" as though I'm nuts. I'm a scientist, I may be nuts but I think this could be successful and you have some interesting thoughts.

1. Home access is a given. I, sometimes, when walking through a burial site, look at the name and some grave stones have a picture of the person. I've always wondered who these other people were.
2. You have a good "morally correct" argument. Most of the truth in a person's life is proclaimed on their death bed. Maybe the survivors of this dying persons wrath need to hear the truth about themselves in order to correct their lives.

3. I've considered the access code. It is parallel to the number I would use as the security code.

Thank you for your thoughts. Your most kind.

Cheers
Jim G

[Mouse77e]

K, Jim...

Some people are goint to want an open casket (pardon the expression) but i think most would want to also have a Family Crypt too... somwhere for friends and family to come and find a private space with their loved one...

Good luck with the project tho and keep us informed... infact add me to a buddies list i am curiouse as how you will get on...

Mouse

[AnotherDesigner]

Hi Jim, me again...

Just wondered if you'd actually done any research on each religion's "take" on death...
I know that certain religions believe in an 'after life'... So, as a result, I aren't sure that they would upload content onto the site as a "farewell" message... Maybe they would, I aren't sure - I'd leave that up to you to investigte ;)

You'd have to be - careful, for want of a better word - not to segregate yourself from various religions, as you'd potentially be losing out on a massive 'market' if many religions believe in an after-life of some sort, and so a "farewell" message like that would contradict their religious beliefs.
Just another thought.

[buzzying]

I had to really think about this. Would this serve as a life blog? A representation of a persons life and thoughts in an electronic format with a guest book? Sounds interesting. The remote access concept is a great idea but its implementation does sound very complicated.

Within this generation I am sure we will see tombstones that contain email addresses, webhandles and all cell phone numbers as these things form a large part of peoples lives now and become the immortalization of our life online.

[AnotherDesigner]

Buzzying, as I understand it, it will be more of a 'death bed speech'-type site rather than a "life blog" which is updated regularly or irregularly...
Or by "life blog" do you mean an autobiography-type site written 'last minute'?

[jim2591]

yes. A little of both. I want to catch the essence of the individual.

jim

[jim2591]

I don't work quickly. I've been planning this for a while. My other research grabs most of my time. So, I talk to knowlegable people like yourself.

jim