Astonishing Future Technologies: A New World of Virtual Humans and Digital Twins
Imagine this: in the year 2030, standing before you is a "virtual human" that looks exactly like you. And a "digital twin" in which everything, from the organs in your body to the entire city you live in, is fully recreated in cyberspace. This is not just a scene from a science fiction movie. It is a revolutionary technology that is becoming a reality right before our eyes. Virtual humans and digital twins have the potential to fundamentally change our lives, business, and society. This article explores the latest trends and amazing applications of these technologies and the revolutionary changes they can bring to your life.
Virtual Humans: "Live" Digital Characters Created by AI
What is a virtual human?
Virtual humans are digital characters created using advanced AI and 3DCG technologies. They are capable of natural interaction and emotional expression in real time, and have the ability to learn and evolve through interaction with humans. Unlike conventional CG characters, they have a higher degree of autonomy and adaptability, and are used in a variety of fields including customer service, entertainment, and education. As their appearance and behavior become more human-like, they have the potential to blur the boundaries between humans and computers.
Market Size and Growth Rate
The virtual human market is expanding rapidly, with a global market size of approximately US$1 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.01 TP3T through 2030. This growth is attributed to advances in AI technology, accelerating digitization, and the growing use of virtual humans in various industries. In particular, the market is expected to continue to grow due to increasing demand in the customer service, entertainment, and education sectors.
Digital Twin: Reproducing the real world in cyberspace
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a virtual model that faithfully reproduces physical objects and systems in digital space; it collects real-time data through IoT sensors and other means to reflect real-world conditions in digital space. This enables various simulations, forecasts, and optimization. It is used in a wide range of fields such as manufacturing, urban planning, and healthcare, contributing to increased efficiency, cost reduction, and innovation creation. As a bridge between the real and digital worlds, it is becoming increasingly important.
Market Size and Growth Rate
The digital twin market is also growing rapidly, with a global market size of approximately US$11.1 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.71 TP3T through 2030. This growth is being fueled by the proliferation of IoT technologies, advances in big data analytics, and the digitization of industries. The market is expected to continue to grow, especially in the manufacturing, smart cities, and healthcare sectors.
Real-life examples of virtual human applications
1. customer service innovation
Virtual humans are revolutionizing customer service, with virtual assistants that are available 24/7, multilingual, and emotionally aware to complement human staff. For example, IBM's Watson Assistant uses natural language processing technology to respond to customer questions and help solve problems. This reduces response time, improves customer satisfaction, and makes more efficient use of human resources. In addition, data analysis enables us to understand and predict customer needs.
2. application in the entertainment industry
In the entertainment industry, virtual humans are opening up new possibilities for expression. For example, Epic Games' "MetaHuman Creator" is used in game development and animation production as a tool for creating high-quality digital humans in a short time. In addition, virtual idols and virtual influencers are gaining popularity, enabling new forms of content creation and audience interaction that transcend traditional entertainment boundaries.
3. potential in the field of education
In education, virtual humans could revolutionize personalized learning and language teaching: AI-powered virtual teachers could provide instruction at the learner's pace and level of understanding, and answer questions 24 hours a day. For language learning, learners will be able to practice conversations with a virtual partner who is like a native speaker. New learning experiences are also expected, such as recreating historical figures as virtual humans and learning through direct dialogue.
Actual Applications of the Digital Twin
1. application in the manufacturing industry: GE case study
General Electric (GE) has applied digital twin technology to wind turbines with great success. By creating a digital twin of each turbine and collecting and analyzing real-time data, performance optimization and preventive maintenance have been achieved. This has resulted in improved power generation efficiency and reduced maintenance costs. The GE case is a prime example of the value that digital twins can bring to the manufacturing industry.
2. application in urban planning: the case of Singapore
Singapore's "Virtual Singapore" project is a progressive effort to digitally twin the entire country, integrating a variety of data into 3D models for urban planning, traffic management, and environmental monitoring. For example, it is possible to simulate the impact of new building construction on sunlight and wind flow, or to optimize evacuation plans in the event of a disaster. Citizens and businesses also have access to this data, which is used to develop new services and applications.
3. potential in the healthcare field
In the healthcare field, digital twins have the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine and treatment simulation. For example, Dassault Systèmes' Living Heart Project uses a digital twin of the heart. By creating a digital twin of a patient's heart and simulating various treatment options, an optimal treatment plan can be developed. It is also expected to be used to predict the effects and side effects of drugs, to rehearse surgeries, and even for preventive medicine. The digital twin has the potential to greatly improve the quality and efficiency of medical care.
Future Prospects for Virtual Humans and Digital Twins
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The convergence of these technologies is expected to deepen the interaction between humans and the digital world, enabling personalized experiences and efficient problem solving. For example, a system in which personal health data is analyzed in real time and a virtual human provides health advice, or a service in which a virtual human suggests the best travel routes for citizens using a citywide digital twin could be realized.
Japanese dock (plant) (Rumex japonicus)(flower's) filamentHowever, there are also issues such as privacy protection, ethical issues, and the widening technology gap, and it is important to develop the technology while appropriately addressing these issues. In the future, virtual human and digital twin technologies have the potential to fundamentally change the way we live our lives and society, and their potential impact is immeasurable.
Virtual Human and Digital Twin Challenges:
- Privacy ProtectionConcerns about the handling of personal data
- Security RisksCyber Attacks: Countermeasures against Cyber Attacks
- ethical problemTransparency and accountability of AI's decision-making
- disparity in technologyInequality due to differences in access to and ability to use technology
To address these challenges, appropriate regulations and guidelines are being developed in parallel with technology development.
Summary: Preparing for 2030
Virtual humans and digital twins have the potential to transform our lives, our businesses, and society as a whole, and as we move toward 2030, it is important to prepare for the changes these technologies will bring.
- Understanding and learning how to utilize new technologies
- Raise awareness of privacy and security issues
- Consideration of the use of technology from an ethical perspective
The future has already begun. How will we adapt and create new value in the new world pioneered by virtual humans and digital twins? We must ride the wave of this transformation while keeping a close eye on technological evolution and remembering to take a human-centered approach.
References
Grand View Research.(2023). Virtual Human Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type, By Industry, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/virtual-human-market-report
Grand View Research.(2023). Digital Twin Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End-use, By Enterprise, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - Digital Twin Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-twin-market
IBM.(n.d.). Watson Assistant. https://www.ibm.com/products/watson-assistant
Epic Games.(n.d.). MetaHuman Creator. https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/metahuman-creator
GE.(n.d.). Digital Wind Farm. https://www.ge.com/renewableenergy/wind-energy/technology/digital-wind-farm
National Research Foundation Singapore.(n.d.). Virtual Singapore. https://www.nrf.gov.sg/programmes/virtual-singapore
Dassault Systèmes.(n.d.). The Living Heart Project. https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/solutions/life-sciences/the-living-heart-project/
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