Highlights
- TCS Futurist Bill Quinn is tapping into his research to create a custom training program using his digital twin to prepare for the TCS New York City Marathon.
- A digital twin for running requires data that can paint a picture of an athlete’s performance in response to different stimuli and challenges.
- In the coming decades, nanobots could be installed into an athlete’s body to provide real-time data of biological functions, deliver medicine on demand, and more.
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TCS marathoner gets a digital double
As the title sponsor and technology consulting partner for the world’s top marathons, TCS believes in the power of fitness to change lives.
Every year, countless TCS employees, partners, and customers train to run marathons across the globe, inspiring thousands with their dedication to get to the finish line.
This year, TCS Futurist Bill Quinn, a thought leader in the potential of digital twins and other emerging technologies to transform business and society, joins that group of inspiring marathoners. But, just as TCS marries technology expertise with a passion for fitness, Bill is tapping into his research to create a custom training program to help him prepare for the TCS New York City Marathon.
The question Bill has set out to answer is—can a personal digital twin help an amateur runner complete his first TCS New York City Marathon?
Bill is using his digital twin to monitor every aspect of his life, from sleep to diet to training and stride efficiency. With the digital twin in place, AI can run various scenarios to recommend training modifications to optimize Bill’s performance based on unique needs and health conditions.
Read on to learn more about the range of technologies Bill is using to create his running digital twin—and his view on what could be coming in the future to make running even more technologically advanced.
Bill’s digital twin plan
Bill’s plan includes using wearables such as a smartwatch, a fitness band, and a glucose monitor that tracks diet and nutrition.
Running to the future with digital twin
Running to the future with digital twin
Wearables in action
Digital twins cannot exist without high-quality data sources. A running digital twin would require data that can paint a picture of an athlete’s performance over time in response to different stimuli and challenges.
To accomplish this, Bill integrated the following wearables into his training regimen:
Smartwatch: Provides broad training data such as distance, pace, time, heart rate, and more.
Fitness band: Monitors recovery, including cardiovascular strain and sleep patterns.
Glucose monitor: Tracks diet, nutrition, and the effects on blood sugar levels, which can impact running performance.
Enabling AI: AI is an essential ingredient in empowering digital twins to be effective. Bill is using AI as part of his training regimen in multiple ways:
Generative AI: Data from the digital twin is fed into an AI platform to help recognize patterns and create ideal responses to various running scenarios.
Customized shoes: Based on 3D scans of Bill’s feet, customized shoes can be made for an optimal fit, helping to improve performance and durability.
Running to a nanobot-enhanced future: Digital twin technology is already transforming industries and providing value to the running community, including TCS’ partnership with world-class marathoner Des Linden to create the first-ever digital twin of a long-distance runner’s heart.
What’s next?
When envisioning the future of fitness, Bill points to nanotechnology as holding tremendous potential.
In the coming decades, nanobots could be installed directly into an athlete’s body to provide real-time data of biological functions, deliver medicine on demand, and more.
Nanobots will deliver on the full promise of digital twins by enabling athletes, their coaches, and trainers to monitor and act remotely to provide tangible benefits when needed the most. For instance, releasing pain medication at the perfect time to overcome a challenging injury or stressful situation.
Bill Quinn and thousands of others are running to the future this November for the TCS New York City Marathon. To see Bill’s progress and learn more about the marathon, visit: https://www.tcs.com/who-we-are/sports-sponsorships/tcs-nyc-marathon-technology-app
For more information about TCS and digital twins, please visit: https://www.tcs.com/who-we-are/worldwide/tcs-na/digitaltwins
Bill is using his digital twin to monitor every aspect of his life, from sleep to diet to training and stride efficiency. With the digital twin in place, AI can run various scenarios to recommend training modifications to optimize Bill’s performance based on unique needs and health conditions.
