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Sounds like an interesting idea. But, like others, I am skeptical relying on a "beta labeled" web service to handle this for me.

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The beta is for a "new and improved" version. If you remove beta from the address, you can access the current let's-call-it "stable" version.

I played around with this a while ago. Didn't think the way it's implemented solves the problem as I perceive it. (Plus, the risk of these confirmation emails ending up in spam felt a bit like a downer.)

This is why I decided to make one of these. I wanted to do it, but I was too worried that it could go wrong. We're doing this but without the "keep-alive" emails. You just sign up, and we know when you die. This unfortunately limits us to the US right now. But if it shows promise, we'll expand.

I want to eventually integrate Twilio so it can call you and have you enter a PIN to check in, rather than email, or something to that effect (maybe reply to an SMS?).

That's for a bit further ahead, though.

The twilio thing sounds like a good idea. Given the mechanics, the more means of communication you have, the better you're protected against false positives.

I'm still a bit unsure about the part where "you're responsible for asserting that you're still alive." I'd like break it down to its basic premises and see if they actually make sense. :-)

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