Karen Tanenbaum is a veteran UX designer and interactive game developer with a passion for emerging technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and ubiquitous computing. She holds a PhD in Interactive Arts and Technology from Simon Fraser University, where she worked as a research assistant, programmer, and teaching assistant. She also earned an MA in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego, and a BA in Philosophy and Celtic Studies from the University of Redlands. Karen has worked as a project scientist, contractor, and lead designer at esteemed organizations such as UC Irvine, Shovels and Whiskey VR, Maker Media, Intel, and Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She is also the co-founder of Tanenbaum Fabrications, where she applies her skills in computational linguistics and interactive narrative to design futuristic wearables and tangible computing devices. In her academic research, Karen explores the intersections of subculture and design, with a special focus on the Maker movement and steampunk. Her professional accomplishments and scholarly contributions have garnered her recognition and respect in the design and technology communities.