Ross Sleight has worked in digital media and experiences for over 20 years. Here Ross explores both the personal and social impact of our addictive smartphone use.

Why do our mobile virtual homes take precedence over our real physical homes? Does our obsessive behaviour make us less interactive and engaging with real people? Are we becoming less human and morphing into 'smombies' (smartphone zombies)? And if so, what can we do about it to break our habits, change our behaviour and instead of spending our time looking down bathed in the reflective glare of our 5 inch screens learn to look up again? Ross has been involved in digital media for over 20 years. He's founded four award-winning digital agencies, was a founder of Virgin Games and today is the Chief Strategy Officer for Somo – an accelerator that delivers rapid, actionable innovation for its global clients. Ross is a digital advisor to several influential companies, an investor and advisor to various innovative start-ups and a regular conference speaker. He’s also judged, and won, many industry awards.

Through his passion for art, music and design, Ross is a digital advisor to LIFT (the London International Festival of Theatre) and a director of Leamington's Art in the Park festival alongside his wife and festival organiser Carole. 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