Through our digital devices and high-speed networks, we are more connected than we have ever been before, and with that comes great innovation. The ‘Internet of things’ is already starting to revolutionise our homes and workplaces with smart speakers, lights and heating – but where is this all heading, and will we like where it goes? Tom will look at what the near future could look like for our homes and with a bit of imagination what the distant future could have in store for us. One of 2019's BIMA 100 – a list recognising the UK's 100 most influential people in digital and tech – Tom is a leading voice for digital and user experience design in the North East.

With a wide-ranging career in digital and design, Tom is Associate Director at EPAM Systems, where he conducts user research and testing, leads design workshops, and helps to create beautiful, meaningful design experiences. He regularly hosts talks and YouTube videos about the curious, exciting, and occasionally terrifying future of artificial intelligence, digital design, and virtual reality.

Tom channels his infectious enthusiasm to not only champion digital design, but also inspire and educate – writing thought leadership pieces for online publications, organising industry design meetups, and running bootcamps and workshops for local schools and universities. He wants to make a better world, and hopes our robot overlords will appreciate it. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx