Japanese stone-processing company Ishinokoe has begun offering tombstones featuring QR Codes, bar codes that can be read by cell phones and linked to Web addresses.

Scanning the code will allow visitors to view images of the deceased, watch video greetings from the chief mourner at the funeral, and browse the guest book. They can also add their own entries to the book using their cell phones.

My favorite quote from the article is from Ishinokoe president Yoshitsugu Fukazawa: “If my grandfather who started the company could see this, he’d probably be really surprised.” I believe that’s what they call an understatement.

I can see an entire industry springing up around this, not only creating elaborate multimedia presentations for the deceased but assuring them of perpetual server space, which sounds rather Pharaonic if you think about it.

I can also see disgruntled heirs auctioning off the bar codes to porn sites.

Link (via BoingBoing)