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Patent sought for messages from grave (Talking Tombstones)
UPI via Washington Times ^ | July 8, 2004

Posted on 07/08/2004 7:51:18 PM PDT by Vision Thing

Burlingame, CA, Jul. 8 (UPI) -- Application for a U.S. patent has been filed by a California man for his system that allows the dead to speak from their tombs, New Scientist reported Thursday.

Robert Barrows of Burlingame has devised a hollow headstone fitted with a flat LCD touch screen. It also houses a computer with a hard disc or microchip memory that allows the deceased to speak from the grave through a video message.

The tombstone would draw its electricity from the cemetery's lighting system, and as a civil touch, comes with wireless headphones so as not to disturb others.

If his patent is granted, Barrows says he would encourage people to leave a parting video with their lawyer when making out a will.

Gary Collison, professor of American studies at Pennsylvania State University in Pittsburgh, thinks video tombstones are a natural progression from outsize monumental stonework.

"Cemeteries are places where people try to outdo each other," he said. "This would certainly be a new way to do that."

Copyright 2004 United Press International


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iheardeadpeople; invention; inventions; patent; talkingtombstone
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1 posted on 07/08/2004 7:51:20 PM PDT by Vision Thing
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To: Vision Thing
I'd crack wise at this one, but seeing as the board has just lost another FReeper (sultan88) and my husband TrappedInLiberalHell has also departed this earth, I'm just not in the mood.

Something about this idea gives me the creeps. "Cemeteries are a place where people try to outdo each other," indeed. Pfft. Cemeteries are a place where the living go to honour the dead.
2 posted on 07/08/2004 7:58:54 PM PDT by KangarooJacqui (C'mon America. Win one more for the Gipper...)
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To: Vision Thing

"Hi. You've reached the gravesite of Tall_Texan. I'm not available to take your condolences right now but if you'd like to leave a message..."


3 posted on 07/08/2004 7:59:10 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (Ronald Reagan - Greatest President of the 20th Century.)
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To: Vision Thing

Damn! I thought of that 10 years ago!


4 posted on 07/08/2004 8:03:57 PM PDT by Solamente
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To: KangarooJacqui
I know it's not much, but...

On behalf of us all...


5 posted on 07/08/2004 8:04:23 PM PDT by Old Sarge (2004: Win One More For The Gipper!)
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To: Vision Thing

What do you want on your tombstone? How about 42 trojans and 132 popup adds. :-P


6 posted on 07/08/2004 8:05:31 PM PDT by Liberal Classic (No better friend, no worse enemy. Semper Fi!)
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To: KangarooJacqui

Although I do agree with your point, I do have to say that some of the dead are more "honored" than others. And I believe most of those pre-planned their memorials. So I think there is truth in both points.


7 posted on 07/08/2004 8:05:44 PM PDT by TXBubba (aka TXBubbette)
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To: Tall_Texan; Liberal Classic

HEH!!


8 posted on 07/08/2004 8:10:38 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: Vision Thing
American ingenuity! Why not? Aren't we all entitled to own individual choices?

I say BRAVO! You know, my will has me being cremated, but I might just change it and prescribe one of these things!

9 posted on 07/08/2004 8:12:18 PM PDT by Chieftain ('W' in '04!)
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To: Tall_Texan
"Hi. You've reached the gravesite of Tall_Texan. I'm not available to take your condolences right now but if you'd like to leave a message..."

LOL

Mine. "Hello, you've reached the grave site of blam, please deposit $5.00 to continue."

10 posted on 07/08/2004 8:15:47 PM PDT by blam
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To: Vision Thing

"He left me to drown in the car! After he ran the car off the bridge he just left me! He was drunk! They let him get away with it! He's been a United States Senator for decades. He's had a fantastic life! And lived like a king! And all that time I've just been dead! What about me? What about my life? That bastard killed me!

11 posted on 07/08/2004 8:15:49 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Strategery - "W" plays poker with one hand and chess with the other.)
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To: KangarooJacqui

My condolences to you on the loss of your husband. He sounds like the kind of man who has the decency and modesty to choose against placing such a device in his own resting place.


12 posted on 07/08/2004 8:17:38 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Kerry-Edwards: For men and women who vote under the influence of their own estrogen)
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To: isthisnickcool

I'm thinking there are a lot of graves in Arkansas which could speak volumes...


13 posted on 07/08/2004 8:20:24 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)
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To: Solamente

If you documented your invention and have signed witnesses for it, you can try to cut in front of the current inventor. It sounds like it has some appeal because it received a lot of press, and it's only a patent application, not an issued patent.


14 posted on 07/08/2004 8:21:38 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Kerry-Edwards: For men and women who vote under the influence of their own estrogen)
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To: COBOL2Java

Speaking of which, something tells me Bubba is gonna want one of these for his own gravesite.


15 posted on 07/08/2004 8:22:58 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Kerry-Edwards: For men and women who vote under the influence of their own estrogen)
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To: KangarooJacqui

Cemeteries have long been the cheapest form of prophylaxis from a public-health perspective; as ceremony they serve as silent reminders of the ineluctable nature of time.


16 posted on 07/08/2004 8:25:07 PM PDT by Old Professer (Interests in common are commonly abused.)
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To: Vision Thing

LOL! And he'll transfer to the great beyond thinking people will actually want to listen in. There's a graphic there somewhere: tombstone of Slick with a thickly-cobwebbed set of headphones. Sign says "Speak to Bill Clinton! Just 25 cents"


17 posted on 07/08/2004 8:28:01 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)
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To: isthisnickcool

I'm not so sure. Women who date kennedys tend to have a high tolerance for abuse and disgrace. And they tend to forgive the kennedy punks for anything.


18 posted on 07/08/2004 8:28:25 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Kerry-Edwards: For men and women who vote under the influence of their own estrogen)
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To: COBOL2Java

You never know. There seems to be a never-ending supply of Monica Lewinskys in this world. I'm sure some of 'em will show up to watch and listen and sigh in girlish delight.


19 posted on 07/08/2004 8:31:46 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Kerry-Edwards: For men and women who vote under the influence of their own estrogen)
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To: Old Sarge

Thanks, Sarge. *Wipes tear from eye*

And eternal thanks for the job you and other soldiers do to keep the free world, well, free. Cheers.


20 posted on 07/08/2004 8:38:49 PM PDT by KangarooJacqui (C'mon America. Win one more for the Gipper...)
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