Crafting a Digital Animated Entity: A Guide to Creating a Virtual Human
On 27 September, the IMAX Theatre at the Science Museum will host an enlightening event titled "How to Build a Virtual Human". The discussion, running from 19.30-20.30, is a part of the September Lates series and offers a unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of virtual humans.
The event is free and tickets can be secured here. This discussion is brought to you in partnership with the CompBioMed initiative, a global leader in the creation of the virtual human, headed by University College London. Professor Blanca Rodriguez from Oxford University will be speaking about virtual hearts, while Professor Peter Coveney from UCL will discuss the simulation of drugs in the body, including their potential applications in treating cancer and AIDS.
The creation of a virtual human is a multi-step process that integrates data collection, high-performance computation, AI modeling, and continuous updating. This approach, as discussed by Roger Highfield and the CompBioMed initiative, aims to build a practical digital twin of a human, paving the way for personalized, prediction-driven medicine.
Starting from the detailed complexities of the human body, scientists collect vast amounts of biomedical and physiological data. They then use supercomputers and AI algorithms to simulate and replicate bodily functions digitally. The result is a digital twin that is continuously updated to reflect the current state of the person.
This digital twin offers a shift from static simulations to dynamic, personalized models that can offer insights in real time, helping control diseases or conditions effectively. The concept fits within a broader vision of integrating physics-based modeling with data-driven AI to achieve truly individualized healthcare.
The virtual human can mimic bodily responses such as breathing, blistering, and bleeding. It can be dissected, probed, and explored in unprecedented detail to determine the most effective treatments. Moreover, it can be used as a crash test dummy, guinea pig, and trial volunteer, allowing for the testing of treatments without risk to human subjects.
Doctors can use the virtual human to plan delicate surgeries, like heart valve replacement or brain surgery. In fact, a 3D printed kidney has recently been acquired for the Science Museum's Medicine Galleries to aid in organ transplants.
The Medicine Galleries at the Science Museum are set to open in 2019, offering visitors a chance to explore the fascinating world of medicine. Meanwhile, Professor Marco Viceconti from Sheffield University is a key player in the Virtual Physiological Human initiative.
The special Lates event on 27 September will also showcase leading-edge simulations of living processes. Science Museum Lates is over 18s only and runs from 18.45-22.00, with admission free but some events requiring tickets. So, mark your calendars and join us for an insightful journey into the future of medicine!
[1] Highfield, R., & Coveney, P. (2017). Virtual You: The Dazzling Future of Our Data-driven Bodies. Penguin Books. [5] Highfield, R. (2017). Big AI: How to Harness the Power of Machine Intelligence for Good. Penguin Books.
- The special event at the IMAX Theatre on 27 September, in partnership with CompBioMed, will delve into the fascinating world of virtual humans, discussing the simulation of drugs in the body and virtual hearts, with Professors Peter Coveney and Blanca Rodriguez as speakers.
- The creation of a virtual human, which integrates data collection, high-performance computation, AI modeling, and continuous updating, can offer significant advancements in health-and-wellness, particularly in the medical-conditions domain, by enabling personalized, prediction-driven medicine and serving as a safe testing ground for treatments, thanks to technology's ability to mimic bodily responses, dissect, probe, and explore a digital counterpart with unprecedented detail.
