What if everyone sees my text messages after I'm dead?
*Trigger Warning* I imagined a digital afterlife. we’re talking about death, but also the life that comes after this one. What happens to all my digital footprint?
We are terrified by the idea of losing loved ones, and it's even harder to imagine ourselves saying goodbye to this world. As technology became a larger part of our lives, what do we talk about when we talk about death?
We are terrified by the idea of losing loved ones, and it's even harder to imagine ourselves saying goodbye to this world. As technology became a larger part of our lives, what do we talk about when we talk about death?
I conducted research on three aspects: the psychology of grief, the existing ways of memorialization, and laws on digital inheritance. I then identified what is lacking and how might a product improve the overall experience.
Because this topic is personal and sensitive, distributing a traditional user survey is not feasible. Instead, I interviewed eight people born after 1995 and asked about their opinions on digital inheritance. Participants were given two hypothetical scenarios.
To fully understand the potential use and benefits of the product, I developed two personas - a daughter and her dying father - and considered their complex relationship and how they could utilize the product to aid in their grieving process and foster a stronger connection, even after the father's passing.
After understanding the users, I wanted to create an avatar of the deceased, and the loved ones could interact with it and remember the stories. The Individual will also be able to decide whether data would be shared or erased.
I conducted research on different technologies to determine the most suitable medium for the avatar. After creating five metrics, I concluded that a hologram would be the most appropriate choice. In particular, a light field display system can generate a three-dimensional illusion of the avatar without requiring the use of headsets.
Human as complex machines can be represented by mathematical models which are used by the computers to simulate the behavior of the complex systems in real-time and how they would react to different input values.
I explored various forms and folding mechanisms before settling on a simple silhouette. The final product has been rendered and features an LED screen at the bottom where users can stand while photos or videos are played. The avatar appears to float on the white space in the middle. Placing both the user and avatar on the same space creates a more immersive experience.
