Towards the Human Digital Twin: Definition and Design - A survey

Martin Wolfgang Lauer-Schmaltz; Philip Cash; John Paulin Hansen; Anja Maier

Towards the Human Digital Twin: Definition and Design - A survey

Martin Wolfgang Lauer-Schmaltz
, Philip Cash
, John Paulin Hansen
, Anja Maier

Northumbria University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research

Abstract

Human Digital Twins (HDTs) are a fast-emerging technology with significant potential in fields ranging from healthcare to sports. HDTs extend the traditional understanding of Digital Twins by representing humans as the underlying physical entity. This has introduced several significant challenges, including ambiguity in the definition of HDTs and a lack of guidance for their design. This survey brings together the recent advances in the field of HDTs to guide future developers by proposing a first cross-domain definition of HDTs based on their characteristics, as well as eleven key design considerations that emerge from the associated challenges.

Original language	English
Journal	arXiv
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Cite this

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title = "Towards the Human Digital Twin: Definition and Design - A survey",

abstract = "Human Digital Twins (HDTs) are a fast-emerging technology with significant potential in fields ranging from healthcare to sports. HDTs extend the traditional understanding of Digital Twins by representing humans as the underlying physical entity. This has introduced several significant challenges, including ambiguity in the definition of HDTs and a lack of guidance for their design. This survey brings together the recent advances in the field of HDTs to guide future developers by proposing a first cross-domain definition of HDTs based on their characteristics, as well as eleven key design considerations that emerge from the associated challenges.",

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AB - Human Digital Twins (HDTs) are a fast-emerging technology with significant potential in fields ranging from healthcare to sports. HDTs extend the traditional understanding of Digital Twins by representing humans as the underlying physical entity. This has introduced several significant challenges, including ambiguity in the definition of HDTs and a lack of guidance for their design. This survey brings together the recent advances in the field of HDTs to guide future developers by proposing a first cross-domain definition of HDTs based on their characteristics, as well as eleven key design considerations that emerge from the associated challenges.

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Towards the Human Digital Twin: Definition and Design - A survey

Abstract

UN SDGs

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