Digital Tombstones Are The New Way You Rest In Peace

Forget flowers, the next big thing in living memorials forMaria Schlitzbeger, of Schliztberger and Daughters
the dearly departed may just be a weatherproof, highMonument Co. in Houston, said that her company has
tech digital scrapbook, powered by a solar cell. Thissold one Serenity panel in a year.
product, known as the Serenity panel, developed byIts a big step, putting electronics on your headstone,
Vidstone LLC, is sold by Riverview Monuments ofshe explained to CNN. People are used to sandblasted
Wausau, Wisconsin and retails for approximatelygranite and marble.
$2,000.According to Lucking, although a digital video
As with most technological innovations, word of thescrapbook 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 athe cell phone, when only a few owned them and the
recent interview, that he hasnt sold any adding thatrest swore that they never would.
many customers tell him that it is not there style. HeMost funeral homes now use LCD screens to do
believes that the Wausau area is a little moremultimedia 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 ofThe screen, powered by the sun, includes headphone
the gravestone, and pays tribute to the deceased injacks for private audio listening.
color pictures, words, music, and even videos, allEllis 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 Vidstonebeyond 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 inHe saw no reason why someone couldnt stand in
Aurora, Colorado, the company has approximately 100front of a video camera and give a message to there
dealers across the country; two in Minnesota, four ingrandchildren. 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. Thoproduct to soon and will get lost in the technology bag,
he confirmed its not a huge number at the moment.only time will tell.