A digital twin is the virtual version of something that happens or exists in physical space – whether a process, person, or object. The digital twin operates in the same way as their physical relative, and in real time, coded as a virtual model to carry out the same tasks or think in the same way. The concept of the digital twin has now moved out of industry and into everyday life with the rise of the Metaverse, as we start to see digital twins of ourselves likely to live, work, and play within it.
Cars: Tesla creates a digital twin in every car it sells and woke up the car industry with significant investment in the technology. Tesla updates the car’s software based on the individual vehicle’s sensor data and uploads updates for a better driving experience for the vehicle’s owner.
Cities: A wake-up call for cities arrived when Singapore created the first digital twin of a city, or in this case an island-state. Its digital twin technology is helping the government in its rollout of renewable energy, urban planning, and coastal protection efforts.
Socials: Fifteen years since its launch and with some 2.8 billion users, Facebook announced in October 2021 that it was creating a parent company called Meta to refocus the company’s virtual reality activities, waking tech companies up to the opportunities of diversifying revenue streams.
Icons: Swedish pop sensations Abba woke up the entertainment industry in 2022 when their “Abbatars” took to the stage in London for the group’s Abba Voyage show, featuring groundbreaking twin technology that recreated the quartet in their 1970s prime for fans all over the world.
