Internet Afterlife: Virtual Salvation in the 21st Century

by Kevin O'Neill Ph.D.  (Author)



Can you imagine swapping your body for a virtual version? This technology-based look at the afterlife chronicles America's fascination with death and reveals how digital immortality may become a reality.

• Reveals the period in American history that established cultural views about the afterlife
• Discusses how technology aids in achieving and designing perspectives on heaven and immortality
• Reviews technologies surrounding digital mortality, including Dmitry Itskov's 2045 Initiative and Martine Rothblatt's Terasem Foundation
• Illustrates how the Internet helps those who have lost loved ones to grieve and cope in new ways
• Links perceptions about death and the hereafter to typical American attitudes, including optimism, confidence, self-reliance, and innovation
• Examines the use of virtual memorials, online obituaries, Facebook pages of deceased users, and avatars