Would you want a QR code on your gravestone?

By LISA TONER
Published on 06/09/2012 14:35

The practice of burying the dead may not have changed much over the years, but the way we communicate with them has.

A revolutionary new way to connect with the dead has been developed by etching barcodes on headstones, memorials and tribute plaques to make them interactive.

Visitors to graveyards can now find out all they need to know about the people who are laid to rest there from a quick scan of the code with their smartphones. They will then be linked directly to a personalised webpage containing a biography of the deceased which includes photos, video content and tributes from their family and friends.

The new technology, which originated in the US, also provides families with a new way to preserve and share the life stories of their loved ones. Relatives of the deceased, or people with passwords, can control content and edit and update the profiles with new information such as the birth of a grandchild. The QR codes can also be used as an effective tool in the researching of family trees

Dorset funeral directors, Chester Pearce, are the first in the UK to provide the service. The installation of the QR barcodes costs up to £300, with an additional £95 to set up the webpage. A small price to pay to give a loved one a new life online.