"Professor, I need to talk to you about my grade."

The young man stood at the edge of my desk, clutching his syllabus like a shield.

"Okay, have a seat," I replied. "What seems to be the concern?"

"I got an 85 on the final project. I need at least a 92 to keep my A."

I was sitting in my office very early in the morning.  I love the mornings! The office is quiet, and my computer and the smell of coffee are my sole companions. My phone was sitting on the table, face up.

Suddenly, a tiny red circle appeared in the corner of an app.

• The red dot was small

• The red dot was silent

• The red dot was persistent …