Byron Otis- Virtually Immortal

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/04/how-to-become-virtually-immortal.html?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=facebook&mbid=social_facebook

I'm going to take a card out of Meg's book and share with you some interesting technological tidbits. I, however, do not have the time and energy to give the lengthy and eloquent analysis we have all come to expect from her, so don't get those hopes up too high.
The business of death in the internet age has always been interesting. Facebook has made profiles delete themselves after a lengthy enough period of inactivity, as well as an option allowing a user to designate another to take control of their account in case of death. And many of us have heard of the woman who had, set up with her bank an electronic system that automatically removed funds from her accounts to pay her bills, her heating, all necessities, and, in 2009, after quitting her job, going home, and closing the garage door, promptly perished of a heart attack in her car, laying undiscovered and slowly weaning away her funds until, a few months ago was discovered mummified in her car by the man who had come to repossess her house. She was effectively "alive," at least in the eyes of those receiving her monthly payments. (you can read more about his interesting situation in a link I'll include at the end) This sort of life is of course nothing in comparison to the sweaty, thinking, bleeding, watching, loving life we all are experiencing. However, electronics are at least attempting to replicate this a little more closely. A new company called EterniMe has begun, and though not yet doling out their product, has shared with all their vision. They dream of making artificial personalities, not unlike an iPod's Ciri (though their representative assures the public that when EterniMe begins actual capitalistic processes, in about four years, the quality of artificial personality technology will have increased dramatically, allowing for a much more complex character to be constructed.), but these personalities would personalize themselves to each user, learning their likes and dislikes, their personal views, and, through regular conversations with their client, their speech patterns. The program would learn to mold itself in the form of the client, even creating an avatar that resembles him or her. And when its corporeal form breaks down for the last time, this program is sent to all it was closest to, allowing this person to become immortal, or if not that, allow a weird shadow of him or her to haunt friends and family. And if you're one of my friends or family, you can definitely expect some version of me pestering you (or some version of you) until eternity.


and, as promised,
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/currency/2014/03/the-afterlife-of-pia-farrenkopf.html?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=facebook&mbid=social_facebook