Adaptive Digital Twin Systems for Long-Distance Relationships: Enhancing Intergenerational Companionship Between Parents and Their Adult Children

Long-Distance Relationships (LDRs) involve individuals separated geographically due to factors like work, school, or travel. While much research has focused on romantic relationships or grandparent-grandchild bonds, less attention has been given to the emotional dynamics between parents and their adult children, particularly as global mobility and longer lifespans increase. Maintaining strong emotional connections across distances is crucial for emotional well-being, with communication tools like social media, email, and mobile phones helping bridge the gap. However, these technologies often fall short in creating deep emotional presence, leaving a gap in truly sustaining meaningful relationships, especially between parents and adult children.

One promising solution is the concept of Digital Twins (DTs), which are digital replicas of real-world entities. Initially used in industries like manufacturing and healthcare, Digital Twins are now being explored for interpersonal relationships. Recent advancements in Adaptive Digital Twins (ADTs), which adapt to changing conditions in real time, show potential for improving emotional connections in LDRs. This research aims to develop adaptive digital twin systems to enhance intergenerational companionship between parents and their geographically distant adult children, enabling both real-time and delayed sharing of daily experiences in a way that is more responsive to evolving emotional needs.

Team