We live in a world where the lines between the physical and digital realms are blending. The Altair Technology Conference in July 2023 gathered engineers, product designers, and tech experts to explore the ‘Phygital’ world. This term combines ‘digital’ and ‘physical’, signifying how these two aspects now intertwine in our daily lives.
Technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), physics simulations, AI/ML, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart devices are reshaping industries and changing how we live, work, and shop. In this changing landscape, customer expectations are evolving quickly.
As product designers, we’re adapting by focusing on human-centred designs that prioritise sustainability, user-friendliness, safety, and faster development. Traditional product development silos are disappearing as innovative tools and technologies are paving the way for collaboration and simultaneous engineering, thus shortening the development cycles while raising quality and decreasing costs.
Human-centered design
One exciting technology is “Human-in-Loop,” which lets humans and machines interact in real-time to optimise designs by understanding forces, strains, and key parameters. This isn’t just for big corporations; even smaller suppliers can use these virtual systems to develop their parts efficiently, as seen with companies like Fluidon and T-Systems.
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As we navigate this blend of the virtual and physical, we’re entering an era where innovative and efficient products are developed faster. Real-time simulation is overcoming verification challenges, marking a game-changing era.
Augmenting reality with virtual sensors
Looking ahead, engineering software companies with data and AI capabilities can create Large Design Models (LDMs), smart tools that virtually assemble products based on instructions, even with limited data.
The Phygital world isn’t just changing industries; it’s revolutionising healthcare. People with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, can benefit from IoT-connected devices. For instance, a glucose monitor can transmit real-time blood sugar data to a smartphone app.
Based on a range of personal parameters, including factors like RBC count and demographics, the smartphone will provide recommendations for dietary intake and actions to take while simultaneously activating the corresponding colour code on the glucose monitoring device’s screen. This allows patients to receive immediate feedback, helping them manage their condition more effectively and improve their overall quality of life.
Digital and physical application
The Venn diagram provides an example of how the fusion of the digital and physical in the ‘Phygital’ world brings powerful outcomes, enhancing healthcare in real-time.
Financial organisations leverage the digital twins, which are the foundation of phygital technology, to enhance client experiences and even thwart fraud. A combination of near real-time simulations, data, and real-time activity monitors make a formidable combination in preventing fraud from taking place.
Altair stands with you as we navigate the intersection of physical and digital realms in the thrilling ‘Phygital’ era. Together, we illuminate the path to a future where these worlds converge, fostering innovation, collaboration and growth.
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This article was first published on October 2, 2023.
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