According to the World Bank data from 2014, there are 97 mobile phone subscriptions per every 100 people in the world. Just 10 years ago, that figure was 42 out of 100. There’s no doubt that smartphones have transformed our world by creating communities, enabling content sharing, and facilitating a global marketplace at our fingertips. But in order to do this, many smartphones users spend hours a day staring at their screens for business and entertainment. And while this technology certainly makes some of life’s tasks easier, it is also easier to “miss” the world around us.
In partnership with AT&T, Thrival will have a discussion about what strategies people are taking to get work done while also taking time away from the screen — to connect with others face to face, person to person. Jim Penna, Director of External Affairs at AT&T, will be joined by Kevin Saftner, General Manager of James St. Gastropub (which recently implemented discounts for phone-free dinners), and Gil Teixeira, the inventor of CEEMI, a tool that allows any smart device to become a collaborative musical instrument.
