Jennifer M. McGregor is a 20 year veteran in the architectural design industry- serving in many capacities, including a role as a former Senior Director of Global Business Development for a renowned hospitality design firm in Chicago. She also serves on the Executive Committee for the Citadel Theatre and the Advisory Board for the Art & Design School at her Alma Mater in Texas.. She serves as a judge for the prestigious Best of NeoCon Competition as well as the Product Innovation Awards through Architectural Products Magazine. Jennifer is an award-winning designer, philanthropist, runway model, photographer, water-skier, but her favorite role is being the mother of three dynamic children.
by Heather Reid
hen I got my first iPhone, I was momentarily unimpressed. I already had a cell phone, so what was the big deal with the shiny device everyone else seemed so enamored with? But just a few minutes after my purchase, I was in a car watching the GPS follow us down the road on the map on the screen and I was rapt. This was technology, magic, and directions all rolled into one.
I knew things would never be the same.
The ubiquitous mobile phone has changed all of our lives and that’s exactly how the creators want it. There are thousands (millions?) of people devoted to developing apps and interfaces that keep us with our faces near screens, eyes glazed, thumbs typing away for hours each day. And often long into the night.
I worry that I have an unhealthy relationship with this device.
For me, social media is the gateway drug. In the beginning, I claimed that I joined Facebook to stay in touch with remote family and friends and to have strategic conversations with the digital advertising clients I was working with at the time. Back in the day, social networking existed solely on desktops so when I was away from a computer, I was really away.
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