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Almost everything we do or say on our mobile and tablet devices is recorded and archived, comprising a huge database of moments in our lives. While futuristic services such as Eterni.me intend to use them to help recreate loved ones after they’ve died, Tx.to is a startup that lets anyone print their favorite text message conversations onto decorative scrolls as a memento.

While the vast majority of smartphone users SMS histories are likely idle chit-chat or practical messages, they also contain moments that have sentimental value — the beginning of friendships, funny jokes, and maybe even texted marriage proposals. Those signing up for Tx.to are able to use a powerful search tool to find the best exchanges, as well as get a data overview of their SMS use — how often they text and what subjects they talk about most frequently. When they find a series of messages they’d like to save for posterity, Tx.to members can request a printed version, which comes rolled as a ‘tomes’ that users can keep or give as a gift. Boxes of three tomes cost EUR 20, although access to the data analysis tools is free. The video below illustrates the concept:

Txt.to taps into the human need to treasure important life moments in a more ceremonious way than simply leaving them trapped inside pieces of hardware. Are there other ways to bring our digital lives into the offline world?