Augmented Reality Memorial System for Funerary Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively enhance the commemorative experience at funerary markers by integrating digital content such as video, audio, and images while ensuring personal information remains private and addressing the degradation of components over time.
Innovation Solution
An augmented reality information system that uses digital tags, a spatial mapping module, and an augmented reality engine to overlay digital content onto funerary markers, with options for cloud-hosted storage and mobile device access, ensuring secure and adaptive visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital content (video, audio, images) is integrated at the funerary marker site to enhance commemoration, then the commemorative experience is enriched, but personal information privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information access by creating distinct digital layers: public commemorative content (photos, videos, messages) and private personal information. Users can selectively share different segments of digital content with different audiences, allowing enriched commemoration while protecting privacy-sensitive data through controlled segmentation of information disclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by allowing different privacy settings for different digital content items. Each piece of digital content can have its own accessibility parameters, enabling public viewing for some content while restricting access to others. This granular control enables personalized commemoration experiences while selectively protecting private information at specific locations in the digital memorial space.
2Loss of information
If digital displays and audio devices are installed at the funerary marker site, then personal depth of information can be provided, but components degrade over time due to weathering
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts digital content from physical devices and stores it in durable digital repositories (cloud storage, databases). Instead of relying on fragile physical displays and audio devices at the marker site, the content is taken out and stored digitally, accessible through mobile devices and computers. This extraction eliminates weathering degradation while preserving unlimited personal information depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of commemorative content that can be accessed indefinitely without physical degradation. Rather than installing physical displays that weather and degrade, the system uses digital copying to replicate content across multiple accessible platforms (smartphones, tablets, computers), ensuring permanent preservation of personal information without the reliability issues of physical components exposed to elements.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If basic details are permanently carved or painted on the funerary marker, then the marker provides enduring commemoration, but it lacks the ability to present rich personal information
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes the funerary marker universal by combining its traditional permanent physical function with digital information access. The physical marker serves as a stable anchor point (maintaining permanence) while also providing access to unlimited digital content through integrated technology. This multi-functionality allows the marker to fulfill both enduring commemoration and rich information presentation without compromising either aspect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds another dimension to the funerary marker by layering digital information access over the permanent physical structure. Instead of expanding horizontally with more physical carvings or paintings, the system moves to a digital dimension where unlimited personal information can be stored and accessed. This dimensional transition preserves the marker's physical permanence while exponentially increasing information capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments are directed to information systems, assemblies and funerary markers employing augmented reality for the commemoration of deceased individuals. Mobile devices are employed to decode digital tags that locate commemorative content, to map the position and geometry of a headstone, and to display the commemorative content in semantic context with the headstone. A spatial mapping module and augmented reality engine adapt the commemorative content for displaying the content in alignment with the position and geometry of the headstone.