There are no batteries to fuss with since the
capsule memory is provided with power from the
attaching device. The cable is a standard USB
cable as used for office computer peripherals
such as a printer, scanner or other computer accessories.
There are many other devices that may access
the capsule memory for downloading the life story
such as: Blackberry, Ipod and other mass memory
containing devices. NOTE!! These other devices
are equipped with the small USB plugs and either
a standard cable or adapter will be needed by
them.
The images above show one method for mounting
a memory capsule. The standard hole for mounting
a flower vase is 6" in diameter. The Grave
Side Memory Capsule may be mounted in any installation
that provides for mounting a standard flower vase.
Existing flower vase installations may be converted
to life story memory capsules instead.
The above image is a view of the
surface etching on the glass plate for the memory
capsule.
The text and design elements on
the all glass face plate are etched into the
glass by laser and have indefinite life. The
standard face plate is a beveled 8" by
8" clear glass plate that is 3/8"
thick with surface etching. There are no paints
to deteriorate with age. Even the black background
color is provided using a 1/8" thick black
glass plate under the face plate.
The memory capsule contains both
electronic hardware and digital software in
addition to the memory storage. The inner mechanism
is completely encapsulated within its container
in solid plastic. The device is entirely waterproof
if installed correctly (upright). The all machined
brass case container construction with hermetically
sealed contents will have indefinite life. Cases
will differ for some larger capacity memories.
Since this flash type memory will
not be active with an applied voltage when not
actually accessed, it is believed that it has
an indefinite life under this application as
a graveside memory container. Life expectancy
is at least hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
years. The intent is that the life story is
an integral part of the stone memorial and should
last as long.
The manufacturers of flash memories
usually rate the life of these memories for
a 10-20 year life under normal use. This normal
use is defined as daily use mainly for the temporary
storage of data with many write cycles. Though
there are no mechanical moving parts in the
device, a write function nevertheless is wearing
on the memory cells. These lives are calculated
on write functions being performed one million
times during the life of the device. Actually
the life of an individual cell within the memory
for write functions is believed to be about
10,000 write cycles and the 1,000,000 cycle
life is obtained through shrewd software testing
and verification that makes sure that as write
functions are performed, the wear load is constantly
distributed in the memory, allowing the overall
memory to survive for one million write cycles.
There will probably never be more
than a very few write cycles on a graveside
memory container since the contents, once entered,
are quite stable and should not be altered.
Even read cycles, which do not appear to cause
wear, will be quite limited since it will be
far easier to obtain a copy from another family
member, or even the internet, than taking the
trip to the cemetery - though we sincerely hope
many do, and often.
Available memory sizes are 1 to
16 gigabytes. To give you an idea of capacity,
about 16 files the size of the Marian Stevenson
example file could be contained in our smallest
memory and that file contains more than 300
pictures plus text.
All life story files loaded by
Graveside Memory Capsule will be held in permanent
memory for recall, if needed. We will be happy
to load any other files but we only keep life
stories permanently.
PLEASE
NOTE!!
Graveside
Memory Capsule contents
may be downloaded into
a laptop or other device
that has memory capabilities
and from that source
cdrom, dvdrom, or thumb
memory copies may be
made in unlimited quantities
for distribution to
anyone, saving them
the problem of actually
going to the grave site
to view the life story.
A cdrom
or dvdrom copy has a
life span of more than
150 years. As the family
grows, and commonly
a family will have more
than 100 descendents
in 8 generations in
about that same time
span, the number of
copies may grow with
the family. If anyone,
in the family or not,
does not have a copy
and wants one, all they
need to do is contact
someone else who has
a copy and freely obtain
one, by mail or internet
transfer - or obtain
a copy at the grave
site.
They may
obtain a certified as
original copy of the
life story from us via
the internet. There
will be a charge.
A key
ring thumb memory can
be carried around and
viewed wherever there
is a device capable
of reading a file and
has a USB socket. This
includes many music
storage devices, hand
held computers and even
some cell phones.
Since
CD/DVD copies are furnished
with the capsule, and
copies may inexpensively
proliferate throughout
the public, there is
actually no absolute
need for anyone to ever
be forced to return
to the graveside to
view the life story.
As a part of the headstone
though, it is available
for anyone to trace
to the source and pay
homage to the deceased
at the same time.
WARRANTY
1. We
will load and test the
capsule and its contents
before shipping. We
ask the customer to
do the same with his
own computer when he
receives it and before
installing it at the
grave site. If anything
is wrong with the memory
capsule we will be happy
to replace it and pay
the shipping both ways.
2. If,
after testing and installing,
the unit should fail
within five years of
purchase, we ask that
you remove it from the
grave site and ship
it to us. We will replace
it without charge complete
with its original entries
and a new glass faceplate. |
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