From Scratch to Twin: The Design of Your First Human-Centric Digital Twin

Digital Twin (DT) technology is gaining prominence across various fields due to its ability to optimize decision-making and improve performance. However, the complexity and scale of traditional DT projects create significant barriers to accessibility, particularly for newcomers. To address this, we present Edu-IMHU, the first replicable framework for developing a personal human-centric DT that lowers entry barriers through a structured hands-on approach. Specifically, Edu-IMHU guides users through key stages: 1) creating a 3D MetaHuman-based virtual replica, 2) establishing real-time synchronization between the physical and digital worlds (digital shadow), and 3) developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven model for alertness detection. By offering an interactive learning experience, Edu-IMHU demystifies DT technology, making it comprehensible and accessible to individuals and organizations while exploring its potential and limitations in human-centric applications. The source code is available at https://github.com/esd-univr/from_scratch_to_twin.