They really are the pets of the future. This is only going to become more common as our "pocket device" becomes our major interface to the web and all the content and communications that come via it. They're also going to become more humanlike in both style and function -- it will be truly sad to depart from them.

Question is, when will THEY feel sad to depart from us?

This is pretty nuts.

"People wanted to be buried with the totems that they felt represented their lifestyle," he explained....Ancient Egyptians were buried with goods for the next life. "We came across one guy who asked to be buried with his mobile phone and his Blackberry, and also with his laptop."

"In Ireland, where we came across this, it was more to do with people being buried with things they liked. One guy we came across was buried with a pack of cigarettes and some matches..."Another was buried with his favourite teddy bear, given to him by his girlfriend."

Girlfriend's teddy bear? Fine. Pack of cigarettes? That's just sad.

One guy we came across was buried with a pack of cigarettes and some matches

I guess if he wanted to duck out for a smoke he'd need a coffin with an escape hatch