Virtual Immortality: the digital afterlife
Three generations have now been using computers most of their lives. We have been busy collecting digital photos, music and movies. Recently, we have begun uploading our digital assets to the Web and sharing them with each other.
We have also been busy expressing and describing our thoughts using blogs and online profiles. As of late we have begun connecting these profiles to one another, creating a complex landscape of online social networks. When we look at how fast things are changing we see that much of this innovation has happened in just the last 5 years.
Now imagine leading a quality digital life for 50 more years. What will happen when you die? What will become of your online accounts? Your data? What do people pass on to their heirs? Can your survivors box up your digital life and archive it? Or will the data be lost without people to tend it?
Or will the data live on forever? Can our digital self image achieve immortality?
A whole industry will be born to answer these questions and satisfy a desire that has existed since the beginning of time - the desire for immortality. We all can't have a terra cotta army in our tomb, or a great pyramid above us. But for a fist full of dollars we will be able to maintain our digital footprint for all time. Just you wait and see.
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Now, that makes me wonder if eBay reputation points can be passed to a business associate or family member. Seems like a good and bad idea at the same time.
Sadly, we have had a lot of experience with this over the past year. Even though I am a homeowner, and someone that is generally more prepared than most, I do not have a will. This weekend my father is going to help me create a will using an online template we found. I am sure this topic will spark interesting conversations with my 75-year-old father, an avid ebayer.
How will your loved ones be protected in the event that sensitive or private information is let out of the bag after you kick it?
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