The age of virtual mourning dawns
In sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, as recounted in this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus was preparing them for his approaching death and offering words to sustain them in the difficult time ahead. Twenty centuries later technology has dramatically altered how people grieve . . .
In sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, as recounted in this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus was preparing them for his approaching death and offering words, gestures, and symbols that would sustain them in the difficult time ahead. Twenty centuries later technology has dramatically altered how people grieve and memorialize the dead. In this new era the bereaved readily share their sorrow via Facebook comments, light virtual candles on memorial websites, upload video tributes to YouTube, and extend sympathies via online funeral guest books.
“It would be naive to assume that technology would leave the ‘death sector’ unaffected,” said Ari Zoldan, CEO of wireless-products provider Quantum Networks. “Technology has pervaded all aspects of our lives, and the honoring of our dearly departed is no exception.”
Observers offer many examples of the emerging world of virtual grieving, such as streaming video of funeral services and mourners applying adhesive-backed barcodes or "QR code" chips to tombstones so visitors can pull up photos and videos with a scan of a smartphone. Those who want help remembering a yahrtzeit—the anniversary of a death in the Jewish faith—can sign up to get email reminders from websites such as ShivaConnect.com.
The new mourning rituals come as society increasingly embraces all things digital. Nearly half of Americans own smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center. One in five own a tablet, up from one in 10 last year. Eight in 10 are on the Internet—and two-thirds of online users tap into social-media sites.
“People are getting much more comfortable with multimedia,” said Elaine C. Haney, CEO of Tributes.com, an online publisher of local and national obituaries. “It's become simple for people of just about any age to use.”
While the digital tools may be new, they still soothe age-old emotions, said Therese A. Rando, author of How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies. “Throughout history, we've memorialized people we've loved and lost,” she said. “These are not new needs. These are new ways of meeting the old needs.”
“It would be naive to assume that technology would leave the ‘death sector’ unaffected,” said Ari Zoldan, CEO of wireless-products provider Quantum Networks. “Technology has pervaded all aspects of our lives, and the honoring of our dearly departed is no exception.”
Observers offer many examples of the emerging world of virtual grieving, such as streaming video of funeral services and mourners applying adhesive-backed barcodes or "QR code" chips to tombstones so visitors can pull up photos and videos with a scan of a smartphone. Those who want help remembering a yahrtzeit—the anniversary of a death in the Jewish faith—can sign up to get email reminders from websites such as ShivaConnect.com.
The new mourning rituals come as society increasingly embraces all things digital. Nearly half of Americans own smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center. One in five own a tablet, up from one in 10 last year. Eight in 10 are on the Internet—and two-thirds of online users tap into social-media sites.
“People are getting much more comfortable with multimedia,” said Elaine C. Haney, CEO of Tributes.com, an online publisher of local and national obituaries. “It's become simple for people of just about any age to use.”
While the digital tools may be new, they still soothe age-old emotions, said Therese A. Rando, author of How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies. “Throughout history, we've memorialized people we've loved and lost,” she said. “These are not new needs. These are new ways of meeting the old needs.”
Source: An article by Laura Petrecca for USA TODAY