| Forget flowers, the next big thing in living memorials for | | | | Maria Schlitzbeger, of Schliztberger and Daughters |
| the dearly departed may just be a weatherproof, high | | | | Monument Co. in Houston, said that her company has |
| tech digital scrapbook, powered by a solar cell. This | | | | sold one Serenity panel in a year. |
| product, known as the Serenity panel, developed by | | | | Its a big step, putting electronics on your headstone, |
| Vidstone LLC, is sold by Riverview Monuments of | | | | she explained to CNN. People are used to sandblasted |
| Wausau, Wisconsin and retails for approximately | | | | granite and marble. |
| $2,000. | | | | According to Lucking, although a digital video |
| As with most technological innovations, word of the | | | | scrapbook on a tombstone may sound a little strange |
| product is spreading slowly. | | | | to most people, it can be compared to the advent of |
| Doug Ellis of Riverview Monuments told CNN in a | | | | the cell phone, when only a few owned them and the |
| recent interview, that he hasnt sold any adding that | | | | rest swore that they never would. |
| many customers tell him that it is not there style. He | | | | Most funeral homes now use LCD screens to do |
| believes that the Wausau area is a little more | | | | multimedia presentations during services. Since five or |
| conservative and that it will take time for expansion. | | | | six years ago video tributes have increased. |
| The panel, according to CNN, amounts to the front of | | | | The screen, powered by the sun, includes headphone |
| the gravestone, and pays tribute to the deceased in | | | | jacks for private audio listening. |
| color pictures, words, music, and even videos, all | | | | Ellis thought it was a neat thing to bring into the |
| courtesy of a small memory chip in front of the device; | | | | industry. Something unique, something a little above and |
| technology developed two years ago by Vidstone | | | | beyond just the standard engraving and pictures that |
| LLC, a company with offices in Florida and Colorado. | | | | end up on a monument at the current time. |
| According to Vidstones national sales director in | | | | He saw no reason why someone couldnt stand in |
| Aurora, Colorado, the company has approximately 100 | | | | front of a video camera and give a message to there |
| dealers across the country; two in Minnesota, four in | | | | grandchildren. Is this the next step in a future of mp3s |
| Illinois, and seven in Michigan, and one in Wisconsin. | | | | and ever expanding leaps in technology or is this |
| They dont release sales figures, Lucking told CNN. Tho | | | | product to soon and will get lost in the technology bag, |
| he confirmed its not a huge number at the moment. | | | | only time will tell. |