- In the fourth Industrial Revolution,
when a new set of related technologies and processes emerge,
there can be a displacement of workers and skills,
but there can also be a demand for new types of talent.
It's for this reason that career adaptability
is becoming important.
For a new generation of people entering the workforce,
it will be essential.
Fortunately, in the digital twin space,
it appears that the net result of its growth
will be greater demands for specialized talent.
As we've seen throughout this course,
digitalization and the digital twin concept
require multiple disciplines.
It encompasses a broad set of design areas.
It is becoming embedded in build and manufacturing processes
and it is seeing significant value in the operations
and maintenance phase of systems and products.
Each of these broad lifecycle areas
have specialized talent requirements.
The need for technologists
with a variety of skills is clear.
After all, in the 21st century, every organization
is a technology organization.
These technologists include: system managers,
engineers, programmers, solution architects,
project managers, cybersecurity professionals,
system administrators, and analysts.
In addition, while already playing an important role
in many organizations, there will be an increasing demand
for data skills.
Let's discuss this.
A big part of digital twins is a data science subject.
We need to remember that at the end of the day,
it's the data produced by sensors and what is does
with that data that really produces the value
of the digital twin.
We need to think about the collection, storage,
management, analysis, security, and more of that data.
Organizations that understand how to leverage data
in a positive way have the potential
to create competitive advantage.
The data produced and used during design,
build, and operations provides the ability, for example,
to create better products that are higher quality.
To fail less often, and cost less to operate and maintain.
These technologists and data scientists
will need context skills.
By this I mean, an understanding of say design
and manufacturing in the industrial sector.
At this time, this is where digital twins
are finding real rapid growth.
That said, it's time to briefly acknowledge the growth
of the digital twin concept in a few other areas.
There are two domains, in particular,
that are worth noting.
Human health care digital twins and city digital twins.
In health care, digital twins are being used
to model hospitals, operations strategies,
capacities, staffing, and care.
For the human body, the promise of digital twins means
discovering undeveloped illnesses,
experimenting with treatments,
and improving preparation for surgeries.
In both health care in general and in the human body domain,
digital twin innovation is just emerging
but shows amazing potential.
Cities are also beginning to recognize and use
the benefits of a digital twin.
For example, Singapore has created a $73 million
data rich live digital replica of the actual city.
City leaders and planners get a more detailed view
of things like planning solar panels on roofs
or emergency evacuation routes.
With just a click, city staff can see how much energy
a building is using.
The possibilities are wide ranging.
In the not too distant future, we'll see digital twins
help to build and maintain all types
of smart cities, and even national infrastructures
across the word.
What this ultimately means for skills is that
the digital twin concept is going to find
its way into many different aspects of the economy.
As a result, demand for digital twin related skills
will be high, specialized, and often domain specific.
If you spent your career in a particular industry
and you want to explore working within
the digital twin realm, it's possible there's
an application already in your space.
Right now, it looks like opportunities will be abundant.