Imagine if you could create your very own twin, an exact copy of yourself, but one that lived a purely digital life.
We are living in an age where everything that exists in the real world is being replicated digitally – our cities, our cars, our homes, and even ourselves. Digital twins have become a new, talked-about tech trend.
Digital twins
A digital twin is a replica of something in the physical world, but with a unique mission – to help improve, or in some other way provide feedback to, the real-life version.
Initially, such twins were just sophisticated 3D computer models, but artificial intelligence (AI) combined with the internet of things – which uses sensors to connect physical things to the network – has meant that you can now build something digitally that is constantly learning from and helping improve the real counterpart.
Human digital twins
Technology analysts believe that we will have the first versions of thinking human digital twins “before the end of the decade.”
We have already started the journey towards human twinning – in the form of the above-mentioned avatars – but these are currently rather clunky and primitive.
The appeal of creating digital twins
It is reminiscent of exciting science fiction novels, and now that is the stage where it is at. AI is not yet good at predicting these “single social events, due to their inherent complexity. And so, we have a long way to go until we can understand and model a person’s life from beginning to end.
Where this technology is used
It is in the fields of product design, distribution, and urban planning where the use of digital twins is currently the most sophisticated and extensive.
In Formula One racing, the McLaren and Red Bull teams use digital twins for their race cars.
Meanwhile, delivery giant, DHL, is creating a digital map of its warehouse and supply chains to allow it to be more efficient.
French software firms are now seeing interest from thousands of firms for their digital twin technology. At present, the technology is used to help a hair care firm digitally design more sustainable shampoo bottles. This reduces waste.
Digital twins in healthcare
The real value seen in digital twins is in healthcare.
Dassault Systemes’ Living Heart project has created an accurate virtual model of a human heart that can be tested and analyzed, allowing surgeons to play out a series of “what if” scenarios for the organ, using various procedures and medical devices.
Boston Children’s Hospital is now using this technology to map out real patient heart conditions, while at Great Ormond Street hospital in London, a team of engineers is working with clinicians to test devices that may help children with rare and difficult-to-treat heart conditions.
Also read: The Metaverse: Transforming Business
