Make Your Memories Meaningful | Digital Time Capsule

> How Time Capsules help you make your story a memoir for the next generation

A time capsule is a message from the past that you send to yourself or others. It is exciting to think about this possibility - whether you are the sender or the receiver. In GEN12's time capsule solution, we look at how long the time capsule has been part of human history, what forms it has taken, and explore the state-of-the-art video-based solution.

WHAT IS A TIME CAPSULE?

A time capsule is a container that holds objects from the past or information from an earlier time. It can be considered a form of communication with the future. Time capsules are usually placed (buried or encased in concrete) on the occasion of a special event (e.g., a world's fair or a groundbreaking ceremony), to be opened in the (near or distant) future. The term "time capsule" has been used since 1937, but the idea is probably as old as human civilization itself.

Just because no one talked about time capsules before the 20th century does not mean the idea of sending a message forward in time did not exist. For example, in 1793, at the laying of the Capitol's cornerstone, George Washington laid down various items for future generations that have since been lost - as have countless other time capsules.

Many people also consider Pompeii to be a kind of time capsule, because it has given us so much information about daily life in the Roman Empire.

THE FIRST OFFICIAL TIME CAPSULE

The concept of the time capsule first appeared in 1937 when, in preparation for the 1939 New York World's Fair, someone proposed sending a "time bomb" into the future. It was so named because it was hoped that it could lead to a genuine cultural revolution in the year 6936 AD (5,000 years in the future) thanks to the microfilms and English teaching materials it contained.

Eventually, organizers chose the less aggressive-sounding term "time capsule," and a special metal alloy was even developed for the torpedo-shaped time capsule, which is about 2 meters long and corrosion-resistant but extremely hard. Inside, the metal capsule was "lined" with a glass capsule, and the whole thing was filled with nitrogen to prevent any corrosion, taking care that the items to be sent to the future would not corrode.

The items included an alarm clock, bifocals, a fountain pen, an Eastman camera, a safety pin, a 1938 fashionable lady's hat, coins (silver dollars, dimes, and the like to pennies), rice, carrot, wool, and tobacco seeds, to name a few, and of course books and famous people such as Albert Einstein, Robert A. Millikan, Karl T. Compton, and Thomas Mann.

Westinghouse Electric Company's time capsule was "launched" on September 23, 1938, the autumnal equinox. Although the shaft was sealed, visitors could view the time capsule through a periscope (until the World's Fair was over). Today, the time capsule's location is marked by a concrete block in Flushing Meadows, New York, and Westinghouse has published the aforementioned time capsule brochure, printed on special paper whose ink does not fade with time.

A MODERN TIME CAPSULE

To this day, traditional physical time capsules are regularly produced. This tradition is especially popular with students. The idea is that students use a time capsule to connect with future generations. Usually, students from several schools make a joint capsule that contains letters to future generations and some items with symbolic meaning.

The general objectives of modern time capsules:

• To live in the present and reflect on how our actions may affect the future.

• To leave a trace in history: because time capsules can be seen as a snapshot of the past.

• To show the objects and thinking of a particular time period.

However, this method might also be used for a far more personal reason. A letter to your future self, while not technically a time capsule, serves a similar purpose on a more intimate level.

GEN12, AS A TIME CAPSULE

The GEN12 time capsule can be created primarily in the form of video messages to friends and family. This is a truly modern form of communication with the future.

Let's look at some typical uses:

• Generational transmission of values and messages: A parent may simply communicate vital family values to their children through videos. They can do so in the form of brief or lengthier communications that may be seen and shared without restriction. A message might be generic, such as for the entire family, or it can be more personal.

• Extension of the family legend: How many times has someone experienced exciting or educational situations in their life, but failed to pass those experiences on to younger family members? A time capsule message can be used to pass along stories from military days, critical information about the family business, or even exciting stories about the family's origins. If only such a solution had existed a century ago!

• Support from the past: In difficult situations, we think a lot about long-lost or deceased loved ones. GEN12 gives us the opportunity to be encouraged and motivated by the messages left behind by our relatives who are no longer alive in special situations.

GEN12’s time capsule solution empowers you to turn every achievement or loss into an inspirational message for the future generation by creating unique videos, letters, or tales. Make a video on the lessons you learned through a significant life experience, achievement, or failure, and share it with your descendants whenever they face a similar situation. GEN12’s time capsule will be sent at the exact time when it is needed.

Perhaps you were your family's first college graduate, or you want to motivate future generations when they get married or have children. Encourage them at difficult times. Make each moment count by making it meaningful.

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