DBM190: Designing with/for Digital Twins
[data-driven design] [user-experience]
September 2022 - November 2022

Digital twin bridging the digital world to the real world

Me along with two teammates designed a digital twin for a remote control used to access a television screen and control certain settings. The aim to
understand how using certain sensors and actuators and the data collected and relayed can help designers understand user needs better while providing a satisfactory and pleasurable experience. 
The most challenging aspect of the design process was understanding the design and functionality of the digital twin in tandem with the design of the product. This required a detailed understanding of the user experience both with and without the novel product and how the digital twin can impact the making and design of the product iteratively. The design process was  primarily focused on understanding the navigation of this process through trial and error. 
In this design iteration, gesture motions for fast-forwarding and volume control are detected using an embedded accelerometer. Alternatively, the same functions can be controlled via pressure buttons by detecting varying pressure levels using piezo sensors. LDR sensors measure ambient light, adjust button light intensity for clarity, and ESP32 collects and relays all data to Data Foundry. Movement and pressure data are clustered by age, enabling the machine learning algorithm to predict age with 76% accuracy. This data aids designers and manufacturers in product diversification and offers users intuitive interactions, extended product lifespan, and multi-modal inputs.
The concept of digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems—offers an innovative way to bridge the natural and digital realms. This capability aligns with my focus on fostering symbiotic relationships between humans and non-humans.
By integrating digital twinning, I envision designing for ecological symbiosis, exploring interactions, and speculating on potential futures. This approach has reshaped how I think about tools for collaboration across species and the role technology plays in sustaining interspecies communication and coexistence.
In 2024, several papers emerged with similar streams of thought [1] [2],  It makes me proud to have identified this opportunity for development and to see its resonance within the academic community.

Relationship between real and virtual system

Competency based development

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