Permanent Digital Memorial
PrototypeA memorial page opened by QR code that cannot be deleted
A memorial page for a loved one is uploaded once to a permanent storage network and still opens years later; a printed QR code carries it from a headstone or plaque to a phone.
Keeping a page online takes continuous payment: hosting lapses, a domain is forgotten, the page disappears. For a memorial, that is unacceptable. In this experiment the memorial page was uploaded to Arweave, a network where data is paid for once and stored permanently; the page and photos open without depending on any server.
To reach the page from the physical world, a QR code with rounded dots and a black mourning ribbon was designed; printed on a headstone or a plaque, it takes visitors straight to the page.
Every message written in the guestbook is also stored on the permanent network. A full name is required, with a profanity filter, link blocking, a gibberish check, and per-person posting limits. New messages appear instantly; even if the writing service shuts down one day, the messages written until then remain readable.
Highlights
- Page on a permanent storage network, independent of servers
- QR code with a mourning ribbon for a headstone or plaque
- Guestbook whose messages are stored permanently too
- Profanity, link, and gibberish checks
- Archive that stays readable even if the writing service closes