Having an exact replica of yours which lives in a digital world sounds fun- but if we do a little research we may find it to be true. The thought gained popularity when it was first introduced by Michael Grieves in the University of Michigan in 2002.      

Mr. Grieves has brought this idea live by initiating towards it; digital twins have been developed for machines, robotics, mining, and now the technology is taking further advances on human digital twins (HDT). Digital twins are mirrors of our technical world.

Why should Digital twins be used?

The biggest reason for using a digital twin model is to save time and money whenever a product or process needs to be tested in design, implementation, monitoring or improvement. By using a digital twin for doing so, scientists or manufactures could easily detect the model & the problems associated with it. Other uses include:

• logistics planning- planning before launching a product into market

• product development and re-design

• quality control / management

• systems planning.

Benefits of using Digital twins:

Although it is a very great concept, still the use of digital twin requires proper knowledge of when and where to use it. Using its 3 types:

• Digital Twin Prototype

• Digital Twin Instance

• Digital Twin Aggregate, the scientists ensure where to use the data.

The digital twin creates a simulation model that can update alongside or in lieu of a physical counterpart through the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and software analytics with data.

In my opinion digital twin is the road to development of Retail, Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Disaster management industries.

Also, smart cities could be developed by using digital twins as Virtual models can help in planning decisions and offering solutions to the many complex challenges faced by modern cities which could not be solved otherwise. Real time responses could be used to tackle the problems virtually by digital model; then the information could be surfaced to the real world.

A very interesting proposition of digital twins is Human Digital Twin or HDT.

The cyber space index would have each of real world human’s corresponding replica/digital twin stored in it. Next generations of the person will inherit some of his biological genetic characteristics which are useful because the data is already in store. This will help at times where people have some inherited disease then it could be depicted in the digital replica. Hence, the diagnosis and treatment of that disease would be possible for upcoming generation.

Besides this assistance, HDT will have an interesting feature of changing synchronously. As the human being would develop in physicality, have diseases or responses to those diseases; that data would be stored in digital replica through cyberspace. Even the slightest change like weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, respiration, blood glucose, exercise volume and emotional changes, would be sent to the Human Digital Twin through communication technology.

Through VR/AR technology, it would provide a vivid 3D image of the real person. The internal organs of human being would be generated by 3D Reconstruction Technology.

It will prove to be of a great help, medically and in healthcare sector. Other advantages have already been described that it is time-saving, cost-saving and a next generation model to solve misleads and crises digitally.

But in order to maintain sustainability, it should not be used in every industry where it is not required because it is a complex structure and could bring complex problems as well. The only risks could be the probability of hampering Social Ethics. Before initiating such complex process one should have a deep knowledge of Artificial intelligence and Human computer science