Designing an Interactive Gravestone Display

HCI research surrounding death has largely focused to an individual's digital remains, with relatively less attention paid to physical memorials, such as graves. We present a prototype interactive gravestone, which aims to blend in seamlessly with traditional stone gravestones. Based on RFID cards inserted into the gravestone, different content is displayed on the gravestone surface. We evaluated the concept though a focus group exploring different types of content displayed on the gravestone, ranging from an individual name, to photographs and an interactive visitors book. Our salient findings show the concept was positively received as a memorial, when designed to match with the dignity of the context.