The death of a loved one may be one of the hardest events that anyone has to go through. The loss can be devastating, and it’s common to wish that you had just a few more days. According to Living Memory, a hi-tech memorial company, you can have more than just another day or two with the recently departed, you can have another lifetime. The company says a new partnership with Phxicom has led to a breakthrough in lasting-interactive-memorials that may just change the way we mourn.
Founded by local inventor Ano Lee, Living Memory got its start as an advanced tombstone company, and still offers specially made grave markers for clients. “Our most modest packages are technologically advanced and a great option for those struggling financially,” says Lee. The weatherproof, vandal-proof, self-cleaning tombstones may look normal, but when you approach one it displays pictures, video, and personal information about the deceased person, thanks to a sprayable display film. In addition, clients can choose specialized themes, and music to play at certain times of the day. “It’s the same technology Veilad uses for many of their special campaigns. If you want an image of your favorite superhero to pop-up, flashing lights, or your favorite song ringing through the graveyard at a special time every day, we can accommodate you,” adds Lee.
In addition, the company offers digital memorial services for those with families who live far away, or who want easy access to a daily reminder of their loved ones. According to the company’s website, “Technology has fostered family mobility and increased the separation of families worldwide. However, miles don’t change the desire to keep memories of loved ones alive for future generations, that’s where our Remembrance Packages come in. Similar to your favorite social media page, our Living Memory archive contains information and messages about your loved one: family history, photos, favorite movies, lists of lovers, highest rated social media comments, and even printable QR codes to share….”
None of these services are unique in a world where digital headstones and online memorials are becoming the norm. It is the company’s latest integration of Phxicom AI technology that is setting Living Memory apart, and raising eyebrows with a six-figure starting price.
“Our Enduring Memory package is the most advanced memorial system ever devised,” says Mr. Lee. The company uses Phxicom technology to study the “social Imprint” of the deceased, and in-depth interviews about their personality to create what it calls a “social simulacrum”. These simulacrums will take over the digital and online lives of loved ones, including posting as them on all their social media outlets. In addition, the company will digitally insert the departed into pictures of social events with friends, like parties, graduations, and weddings. “I know that Phxicom had a rough rollout when they introduced their AI technology, but all the problems have been worked out. Believe me, it’s amazing at how good it is at assuming someone’s personality.”
According to some, the simulacrum’s personality can be a little too authentic. A family member of a recent customer shared her experience with the service.
“I had a great relationship with my grandmother most of my life, even though she was one of the most stubborn people I had ever met. I always felt welcome in her home and would stop by often, until I started dating Robert. Grandma hated him before he even said a word to her, because he came from a “bad” family. She refused to attend the wedding three years later, and even though she wasn’t shy about leaving rude comments on their pictures, she never met her own grandchildren. I always hoped that she and I would reconcile one day, but that day never came. I was saddened to hear about her stroke, and embarrassed to admit that I felt a bit of relief that her negativity would finally end. I had no idea that she had purchased an Enduring Memory package until I checked my social media the next day. There she was at her own funeral, commenting on how wrinkled my kid’s clothes looked and how disappointed she was at the turn out. I thought it was some kind of sick joke until I talked to other family members. She posts more now than she ever did, and is just as rude. I’ve tried blocking the social simulacrum many times, but it makes fake profiles in an attempt to comment on your stuff if it detects blocking. It feels like she never died, and now she’s a death troll that’ll never leave me or my family alone!”
Lee says that the company occasionally hears such complaints but they are focused on providing an authentic representation of loved ones. “For thousands of years the best tool we had for lasting memories were words. The problem with words is that they are up for interpretation, and change through the years. We’ve come a long way since cuneiform. Our Social Simulacrums match the personalities of those they study as closely as possible. Everyone is sainted in death, even when the wouldn’t want it like the customer in question. Our job isn’t to hide the truth, or create a person that never existed. This woman was pretty awful to those close to her in life, and it was her wish to remain awful in death. I think we’ve done an excellent job at matching her exact level of abrasiveness in this case, which is no easy task. It’s our goal to honor the memory of these people with the enduring, and sometimes horrible authenticity they deserve.”
