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Building the future cemetery: where new technology and memories can meet

The Future Cemetery project is an initiative that explores new technology and innovative ways to engage people with end-of-life questions.

A traditional cemetery in the UK
The future cemetery project helps relatives discuss their views on end of life

Everybody dies and everyone wants to be remembered. Dr John Troyer has been working as part of the Future Cemetery project; a new initiative that explores new technology and innovative ways to engage people with end-of-life questions. The project is a collaboration between:

The Future Cemetery works with designers, multi-media artists, theatre performers, creative technologists, computer programmers, and app creators to transform Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol into an open source, end-of-life discussion and technology platform.

One aspect of the project asked people if their next-of-kin know what kind of funeral they want or if they could write a six-word epitaph about their life. During field-testing and trial runs, the research team found that audiences enjoyed the interactive elements but really appreciated the opportunity to think about and discuss the end-of-life.

The Future Cemetery is currently working with consultants to transform the initial project into a robust, dynamic research and development laboratory at Arnos Vale Cemetery called the Future Cemetery Research Centre. The new research centre is slated to open in 2015.

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The Future Cemetery Project

The Future Cemetery Project is an immersive experience that engages cemetery visitors with the UK’s postmortem past.


Find out more about this project

Read the case study