Tombstones with bar codes

Japanese gravestone company Ishinokoe is selling tombstones emblazoned with barcodes, specifically QR codes that can be scanned with a mobile phone camera. Scanning the code brings up a Web site on the phone's browser with photos, text, and videos of the deceased individual. The company can add a QR code to an existing stone for around 200,000 yen (US$2000). From KOFU:

"Tombstones change with the ages," said Ishinokoe president Yoshitsugu Fukazawa. "If my grandfather who started the company could see this, he'd probably be really surprised."

The company developed the tombstones together with an IT firm in Tokyo. In addition to images of the deceased, people can view a greeting from the chief mourner at the funeral and browse through the guest book. They can also make entries using their cell phones.

Link (Thanks, Paul Saffo!)

Previously on BB:
• Hello Kitty tombstone Link
• Leota's new animated tombstone Link
• Graveyard Game: walk around until you die Link

[#1 posted by Jake0748 , May 12, 2008 1:34 PM]

It's a pretty cool idea. As long as the code is in some inconspicuous place and doesn't screw up the overall design on the stone.

But... 2000 bucks to scratch a bar code into a rock? Just another example of the death industry "gouging" its customers.

[#2 posted by emayoh , May 12, 2008 1:45 PM]

Is there a tombstone for when the CueCat died? That should totally have a barcode....

[#3 posted by Jake0748 , May 12, 2008 1:47 PM]

Wasn't the CueCat stillborn?

[#4 posted by noen , May 12, 2008 1:55 PM]

Grandpa is 404??

[#5 posted by Antiglobalism , May 12, 2008 1:56 PM]

Year 2050, we can give one unlucky human being the following number on his/her gravestone: #9,000,000,000

[#6 posted by Jamie Sue , May 12, 2008 2:31 PM]

I love it.

[#7 posted by arkizzle , May 12, 2008 2:36 PM]

Noen, I was thinking something similar..

What happens if that IT company goes bust. Lots of uselessly barcoded tombstone addresses that go no where. It seems pretty dependent on this one company staying afloat, that it seems kind of gimmicky.

They should almost introduce an official IP range dedicated to this idea, but not tied to a company, or make it open-source.

It's a great idea, but It would be sad to see people's meaningful thoughts and messages be held to corporate / market forces, rather than be set in stone as intended.

[#8 posted by noen , May 12, 2008 2:49 PM]

But who will host it? I suggest "The Heavenly Host". That way grandpa will always be with the heavenly host.

;)

[#9 posted by Antinous , May 12, 2008 3:05 PM]

If the Skull Bong Boys became hackers, we could have cyber-desecration.

[#10 posted by Colonist , May 12, 2008 3:12 PM]

I embedded a QR Code into my 2008 Art-O-Matic exhibit. I made a time-lapse YouTube video of the installation where I put the QR-Code up around 5 minutes and 10 seconds into the video in the upper left-hand corner. The QR-Code on display at the exhibit decodes as a link to my website.

[#11 posted by arkizzle , May 12, 2008 3:18 PM]

Noen:

that's a fantastic name, I looked and heavenlyhost.com is for sale !!

brilliant :)

(it is, on sale by one of those 'call for the price' sites, could mega-dollars. seriously, great name though)

I propose we all chip in, and make a rival company, open source. Not wiki however, you'd only have people changing the details :)

[#12 posted by racer x , May 12, 2008 3:58 PM]

Sounds like a genealogist's wet dream.

[#13 posted by arkizzle , May 12, 2008 4:20 PM]

Or how about putting a bluetooth transponder into the headstone (including a compact cold-fusion power-pack of course), with a small set of images, movies, words and music form the family?

[#14 posted by Art , May 12, 2008 7:50 PM]

Strange and uncomfortable.

If it catches on, I wonder how long it will be before BurgerKing or Wal*Mart post digital ads there.

Hey, the advertisers could pay the family of the deceased royalties for it. Or better still, payment in advance!

(Sorry, that's just my old advertising mind.)