. G1 s# K8 y4 x( UMourners bid farewell on internet $ M3 v+ h( Y; c# U/ \1 C9 x) cA Northern Ireland undertaker has begun broadcasting funerals live on the internet.8 O4 u0 u% f( V' z( N4 z
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In what is thought to be a UK first, the County Down firm says the moveallows mourners from across the world to watch the funeral service of friendsand loved ones.& b& x1 y d( W/ `( f, S
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S Clarke and Son Funeral Directors said people now living in Africa,New Zealand, Spain, Australia and Canada had been able to see services takingplace in Newtownards and Bangor. % }8 ~9 C' ?/ |% r0 W; b$ P" a ]- x/ R9 L7 J
The idea was the brainchild of Jim Clarke, who runs the undertaker businesswith his father John - who has just completed a computer course aged 80.* e8 Q9 |: d& k( U2 x$ w3 [: }
}4 m7 d6 n% p% f7 F"Life moves fast - we're just trying to adapt to the changing needs of our world," said Jim. # j8 v3 N/ K$ p, ^) S# f, z: G ) K# u7 @4 V7 q! y+ Z7 { "There are families living abroad who can't afford to fly to funerals,or people who are too sick to go, or busy people who can't get the time offwork. # F( @) V, }# F) g# m7 {8 G* B | : ^; t! G7 B# `' J" u# q. r. w"Our internet option means they get to become part of a grieving process they might have missed out on." D! Z6 C8 n) o5 [2 I% X 0 K2 ~5 ?- B) E( S" ?7 r/ L( V/ D/ }2 F'Spot relatives'9 N4 Z8 m: y7 g& j8 m) I( k8 |4 A
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To maintain privacy, only family and friends issued with a passwordcan view the service, a copy of which can be recorded and kept.! V8 I2 O# j- U) W+ t: _
, n1 v4 X0 p7 t i) e7 p* ? The firm installed a network of cameras and microphones in the churchesattached to their funeral homes in Bangor and Newtownards.. K. w' e3 _5 W7 f1 f: s$ I+ Q& [
; P1 ~6 O% f' o, d; g/ S, Z$ J0 i* X "The pictures are so clear that people watching can see the faces ofeveryone in the crowd, and hear everything clearly, so they can spot relativesthey might not have seen in years," said Jim. * T; R8 h3 k0 u5 P, m . Z3 z0 v% N) W i$ V0 Q$ zThe internet service is offered as a free, optional extra in the Clarkes' funeral package.+ k5 ^! |5 o |4 N/ K: ?) q7 r3 W7 x. _
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[ 本帖最后由 日月光 于 2007-3-13 20:57 编辑 ]
