My first thought while reading about the rise of QR Codes in Graveyards was, “Oh I hate pulling out my phone and scanning those codes”- While my second thought was shame about how few seconds it would take to scan the memorial and do it for a deceased family member or friend.
Like the author of the article, I doubt that QR codes will stay current/updated very long. Technological advances today are moving way too fast to invest in something for eternity. I could be wrong, but I think that most advertising campaigns are slowly phasing out QR Codes, because I can’t remember the last time I saw someone prompt me to scan one, and I also can’t remember the last time I actually scanned one.
This article made me think of the many outdated technologies that have infiltrated the death industry. Contrary to popular belief, Walt Disney was not frozen by cryogenics. Specifically relating to graveyards, I was reminded of the “Safety Coffins” that became prevalent in the Victorian Era. These coffins had a bell that raised out of the ground a few feet, connected to a rope that family would place in the deceased’s hands. In case their loved one was not really dead, this bell and rope system allowed them to pull the bell and signal people above to dig them up.
Over time the fear of being buried alive subsided and the safety coffin fell out of fashion. When you look at these coffins now, they seem absurd right? I hope that people don’t look at the graveyard QR Codes in a similar way if/when they fall out of fashion.
