Blu-ray Is a Memory Machine By Mark Fleischmann July 13, 2009 — Panasonic has marked the launch of its Blu-ray recorder line in the United Kingdom with an academic study that puts a price on memories.

A Panasonic marketing executive noted: "One of the more interesting results from the survey is that more people are using electronic means like digital photographs, video or blogs to catalogue their life experiences. We've recognised that need by releasing the UK's first Blu-Ray disc Recorder...."

Unfortunately, the potential for joy-producing Blu-ray memories will continue to be a playback-only phenomenon for U.S. consumers. The new recorder will not be coming to the U.S. anytime soon. The only way American consumers can record on Blu-ray is to use a PC drive. Sony has marketed Blu-ray recorders in Japan for years.

Anyway, Panasonic commissioned Dr. David Lewis of the University of Sussex to devise a mathematical model that puts a price on memories. He found that a family Christmas is worth £542, a first kiss is worth £23,000, and a wedding is worth £3 million. Leaving no stone unturned, the study also found that people would be willing to sell their memories for sums from £100-10,000. Download the memory calculator at hdeverything.co.uk.