Acclaim

“ To be ahead of one's time usually means stepping to the side of one's time in order to see it clearly. This book does just that, putting our digital lives and afterlives into sharp focus. Fascinating.  ”

-David Eagleman, neuroscientist and author

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About the Book

Almost without realizing it, we have shifted toward an all-digital culture. Future heirlooms like family photos, home movies, and personal letters now exist only in digital form, and in many cases they are stored using popular services like Flickr, YouTube, and Gmail. These digital possessions form a rich collection that chronicles our lives and connects us to each other.

But have you considered what will happen to your treasured digital possessions when you die?

Unfortunately the answer isn’t as certain as we might presume. There are numerous legal, cultural, and technical issues that could prevent access to these assets, and if you don’t take steps to make them available to your heirs, your digital legacy could be lost forever.

Written by the creators of TheDigitalBeyond.com, this book helps you secure your valuable digital assets for your loved ones and perhaps posterity. Whether you’re the casual email user or the hyper-connected digital dweller, you’ll come away with peace of mind knowing that your digital heirlooms won’t be lost in the shuffle.

Table of Contents

1. Introducing the Digital Afterlife

Your Digital Life, Death, and Beyond

2. The Shift to Digital
3. A Well-Lived (Digital) Life
4. The Artifacts of Your Life
5. The Value of Digital Things
6. What You Leave Behind
7. The Opportunity of Digital Legacy
8. Your Legacy at Risk
9. The Birth of an Industry

Securing Your Digital Legacy

10. Before You Begin
11. Computers and Devices
12. Email
13. Social Websites
14. Finance and Commerce
15. Create Your Plan

Epilogue: The Future of Digital Death