I brought my husband back for his funeral as a hologram

["When Pam Cronrath's husband Bill passed away last year, after nearly 60 years of marriage, she knew exactly what she wanted to do – throw him a 'super wake.' But she didn't expect that fulfilling her promise would lead her down a path of exploring the uncharted territory of hologram technology, more commonly associated with celebrities than rural American memorial services.", 'Pam, 78, a tech enthusiast from Wenatchee, Washington, had her epiphany after watching a doctor appear as a full-body hologram at a medical conference several years ago. The experience left a lasting impression, and when Bill died, she began to wonder if the same technology could be used to keep his memory alive. With a career that spanned the early days of the internet, Pam was no stranger to innovation.

However, finding a company that could help her bring her vision to life proved challenging. Many were either too expensive or uninterested in her project.', "It wasn't until she connected with Proto Hologram and Hyperreal, two companies specializing in hologram and avatar technology, that her plan started to take shape. Despite initial reservations about working with companies known for their celebrity clients, Pam was determined to see her project through.

The final cost of $2,000 ballooned to 'at least 10 to 15 times' that amount, but Pam believes her husband would have been 'very much inspired' by the outcome. The process involved scripting a speech, capturing his likeness, voice, and motion, and engineering a hologram that would be recognizable to family and friends.", "The memorial service, attended by around 200 people, was a turning point. As Bill's hologram appeared on screen, speaking directly to the room, the reaction was immediate.

The hologram not only delivered a prepared speech but also participated in a Q&A session, joking and sharing anecdotes that left many attendees believing it was a live interaction. While some experts raise concerns about the ethics of 'grief tech,' including exploitation and consent, Pam sees the hologram as a way to honor her husband's memory, not replace him. She still watches the recording seven months after the service, finding comfort in the hologram's words, particularly when it says, 'I love you.'", "The project has sparked debate about the role of technology in grief and memorialization.

While some, like Hyperreal's founder Remington Scott, argue that their approach is about 'digital human performance' rather than 'grief tech,' others caution about the potential risks of 'platformisation of grief' and the commodification of the dead. As technology continues to evolve, Pam's story raises essential questions about what is possible and what feels right. For Pam, the hologram was a way to celebrate her husband's life, humor, and kindness – a testament to their 60-year love story."]