This Japanese Robot Helps People In Better Mourning The Dead

Technology has helped us in many ways by providing solution to almost everything so as to make our lives easier. That is why a Japanese by the name of Etsuko Ichihara has come up with a new concept to help people go through with the trauma of mourning their loved ones.

The concept of Digital Shaman Project will help people to mourn the death of their love ones. The idea behind this concept is to help see people through the mental distress when they loss a loved one with the help of  a humanoid.


How does this work? 
The supposed family member will spend time with some trained artists who will record some characteristics while he or she is still alive. These characteristics includes gestures, voice messages, head movements, and the needed personality of the person.

Now when the person dies, the family members or friends will then install the program with the data into the robot who will then imitate the person's speech, gestures and personality recorded.

Family and friends of the dead person whose data has been installed in the robot will stay with it for 49 days which is the period of mourning after the funeral in Japan.

Etsuko Ichihara explained that she developed the robot after the death of her grandmother after realizing how Buddhist funerals helped the bereaved ones accept their loved ones death. 

 "I clearly remember a few things from the funeral. Makeup was applied on my dead grandmother's face," Etsuko Ichihara said, continued. "we placed flowers in her coffin. After she we was cremated, our family picked the bones out of her ashes. It was a shocking ritual."


This concept might provide a new way to which a deceased might leave a message such as a will or pass out information to their loved ones.

"I think it's like leaving a will. Users can record whatever message they want to at the interview," Ichihara said.

Though the artist is planning to sale digital Shaman to the public, she however refused the thought that she will allow the deceased live forever through the program.

"I think it will seriously hinder those left behind to move on," Ichihara said.

Digital Shaman was on display in Tokyo.