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Hi Robert, as someone who does a lot of terminology and vocabulary work at CEN and ISO, I can empathize. In the early days of the DTHub, I championed the need for a robust definition as well as clarity around what is (and is not) a digital twin. Unfortunately, words take on a permanence which makes them difficult to shift once they permeate a sector. This is why homes have radiators which don’t radiate, ‘smart cities’ apply to communities other than cities, and BIM applies outside of building¹ (a structure people occupy) and building² (act of constructing).
However your argument is predicated on ‘twin’ being synonymous with identical. Twins can be fraternal or identical. Fraternal twins are siblings but not identical (see the classic 80s film), so the term ‘twin’ can cover this idea of siblings. In addition, ‘twinned cities’ are not identical either, but merely share a relationship based on cooperation.
I personally think we are stuck with the term ‘digital twin’ but hope, with robust definitions, we can prevent its misuse by those who are taking advantage of market confusion.