Technology has never been more relevant in human life as it is today. It is very easy to see how dependence on it is rapidly changing the way everyone does everything. That being said, one of the more important but less talked about aspects of technology and life is, well, the fact of human mortality.
Xconomy reported that while Calico, the Google-backed company, is busy trying to find a workaround to death, tech startups are busy changing the way people deal with death. Mylestoned is one. Started by Dave Balter, the secretive startup aims to preserve the memories of the deceased "where they mattered."
Balter says, "There's no question that we're in an era where death has not only become something we're more aware [of] and comfortable [with] as individuals, but also that the industry has not evolved significantly to match how we live today."
Balter says, "You're seeing a major, major shift in how people think about what to do with their loved ones." He adds, "We're searching for something more meaningful-something to memorialize our loved ones in the places where they had impact."
And he is right. Another startup, Cake, provides "Clarity on your values and preferences around end of life." The startup would like to help by offering concrete "action steps" that you need to take as preparation, such as designating healthcare proxies and getting life insurance.
Safebeyond is an Israel-based startup that launched a very specific service recently. The startup offers its users an online vault that can hold documents and messages. These can then be shared to family and loved ones posthumously.
CEO Moran Zur describes Safebeyond as "emotional life insurance" as messages, in audio, video, or text, can be sent to heirs at certain life events, like 18th birthdays and weddings.
He says, "There's so many things that you don't think about it, but you kind of never get a chance to discuss when you're 25. You don't think about getting married, you don't think about kids, you don't think about other advice that might be needed in the most important moments. What would my father have said about that?"
