I had to read this a couple of times to make sure it was true when I found it in the Seattle Times but yes it is true that in a world gone mad with QR codes they are now coming to the one place that we all presumed was sacred…head stones in graveyards. A company in Seattle is offering to add a QR code to the head stone of the deceased person. When family or loved ones scan the QR code, it reveals additional information about the person including photos, videos and text about the life they lived. I’m all for technology being used in innovative ways but is this maybe a step too far? Aren’t we supposed to respect the dead and leave them in peace? The last thing you want when you are laying flowers and trying to remember that special moment with a loved one is to have a bunch of people on their phones beside you watching videos and scanning codes.
Hold on- Maybe this is a good idea?
When you get over the initial shock of thinking this is some sort of cheap marketing stunt it could actually be a good idea if done correctly. Imagine all those trips to a cemetery where you gaze at names and dates that mean absolutely nothing to you. Imagine if instead you could quickly scan a code and be immersed into the life of the person below with highlights and interactive media. It would have to be a very fine balance and done correctly because the last thing you want to see is people having their Twitter accounts on a gravestone or some sort of other tacky links which is bound to happen. Added to people that died in wars or long ago could be a valuable way for teaching new generations about wars or other ways in which people used to die that have long been forgotten. What do you think? A step too far or technology being used in a smart way?
I’m going with calling this a terrible idea. And rather than articulate why myself, I’ll borrow from this article, which explained it perfectly (http://smartlifeblog.com/the-5-best-and-5-worst-uses-of-qr-codes/):
“[QR Codes on headstones are] problematic for a few reasons. First, QR codes are not exactly mainstream, and they might never be. Not every graveyard visitor has a scanning app, or even knows what a QR code is. Less tech-savvy visitors are essentially left in the dark. Second, QR codes could become just another fleeting fad. Would you want a Betamax biography to serve as your lasting impression on the planet? Or perhaps an autobiography available only on MiniDisc? QR codes may look silly in a few years, and I can’t think of anything more permanent than a tombstone. Third and most important, it involves the upkeep of a website about the deceased, which is likely left to an aging widow(er) or descendant who isn’t always a web or mobile enthusiast. They might just want closure, and updating their deceased spouse’s website to be HTML7 compatible or iPhone 8 compatible would be painful for a lot of reasons.”
I’m going with calling this a terrible idea. And rather than articulate why myself, I’ll borrow from this article, which explained it perfectly: http://smartlifeblog.com/the-5-best-and-5-worst-uses-of-qr-codes/
From the article:
“[QR Codes on headstones are] problematic for a few reasons. First, QR codes are not exactly mainstream, and they might never be. Not every graveyard visitor has a scanning app, or even knows what a QR code is. Less tech-savvy visitors are essentially left in the dark. Second, QR codes could become just another fleeting fad. Would you want a Betamax biography to serve as your lasting impression on the planet? Or perhaps an autobiography available only on MiniDisc? QR codes may look silly in a few years, and I can’t think of anything more permanent than a tombstone. Third and most important, it involves the upkeep of a website about the deceased, which is likely left to an aging widow(er) or descendant who isn’t always a web or mobile enthusiast. They might just want closure, and updating their deceased spouse’s website to be HTML7 compatible or iPhone 8 compatible would be painful for a lot of reasons.”
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I think it’s brilliant. There should be 2 QR codes: one with public info, the other private for loved ones (with password). Have a link to a tribute/memorial site where people can leave a comment. Listen to the deceased favorite music. Light a virtual eternal candle each time you visit the grave.. Just brilliant.. when done right… botros .
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I don’t think there is a need for QR codes here. Just photograph the stones nad create an AR app. This might be a service of the cemetery, which will also ensure a certain degree of quality.
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I would say both brilliant and creepy.
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creepy !! i’m wondering ….where does the QR code take you ??
I think it’s brilliant. How awesome to visually see, read and learn about that persons life. I agree on having two.. One for public and one for family.
You wouldn’t need two QR codes at all, just have a login form on the destination page for a private area.
That makes perfectly sense if you think you can have a personal, permanent, recyclable QR through all your life. That’s what we call a “virtual ID” on http://uqr.me : you link it to your FB profile, then you use it to share files with friends, you embed your CV or vCard on it and put it on your business cards, you sell your stuff and get paid through it via PayPal, and in the end you engrave it on your tombstone. A seamless Internet-of-things life experience…
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Answering that question is like considering that having a webpage for a dead person is’nt creepy.
Actually i’m still wondering.
There are cons and pros and still questions to be answered.
I hope that my “dead page” will have a good google ranking so that it comes first when people try to find me (sorry dear still livings homonyms).
I hope that it could be made with the assistance of someone of great taste and tact.
Leave it to me alone and it might end just with an Error 404, sorry the guy you searched is dead .
So i definitively need help and i definitively want some control over it.
How much am i willing to pay for that ? (the help to create and the eternal hosting)
Finally isn’ it completely stupid to invest in such a short term term technology like QR or even internet ? We are speaking about eternity or more modestly centuries.
QR code might be handy dandy now but what about in 20 or 10 years ?
Internet itself is changing, what will it be like in 50 years ?
With the passing of time no technology can offer better services than a tombstone in term of durability. We are talking about eternity here.
Even if we decide that it’s only for our surviving friends i’m not sure it’s worth it. I’d rather have a nice ceremony with music, pictures, and a nice meal and for those who could’nt came a book with pictures would be a nice idea.
For the unknowns passing by, a nice quote will be more thant enough.
That’s been here in Japan since 2008.
http://asiajin.com/blog/2008/03/13/2d-barcode-tombstone/
and in Pennsylvania last year
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/08/06/Tombstone-medallions-link-to-text-video/UPI-29091281134092/
It is important to keep some basic best practices in mind when deploying QR code campaigns.
#1 Mobile-optimized landing pages
#2 Value exchange with the consumer for scanning (mobile coupon, discount offer, unique content, etc)
#3 Use a QR code campaign management tool to create, manage and track usage (to improve the user experience!)
The FREE QR code campaign management and point-&-click mobile web page builder at http://www.linkblots.com does all this and more – you should check it out if you are looking for a no-risk way to enter the QR code and mobile web space.