Digital Twin and XR Technologies at CSUN: Bridging Theory and Application through Research and Instruction
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, emerging technologies such as Extended Reality (XR) and digital twin systems have extended their reach into critical sectors of industry and education. At CSUN, these innovations are not only the subject of academic discourse—they are being actively developed and investigated through student-led thesis initiatives.
At the core of this integration lies a structured pedagogical approach. Professor Vahé Karamian, a faculty member in CSUN’s Computer Science Department, equips students with the foundational tools necessary to build immersive and interactive applications. Through a curriculum emphasizing Computer Graphics, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Software Engineering, students acquire both the theoretical underpinnings and technical capabilities required to design and deploy XR-driven systems.
Foundations: Instruction as Infrastructure
Each course in Karamian’s portfolio serves a specific and functional role in supporting XR and digital twin research:
- Computer Graphics introduces students to the Unity 3D game engine, scene rendering, mesh manipulation, and shader programming—essential skills when constructing 3D digital environments and interactive interfaces.
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) underscores the importance of usability and interaction models. These principles are applied in designing intuitive user experiences for XR smart glasses or VR headsets.
- Software Engineering establishes the framework for managing complexity—students learn to modularize, document, and iterate on large-scale systems, enabling them to transition from prototype to polished product.
These instructional elements form a cohesive toolkit, empowering students to engage in meaningful, systems-driven development workflows that respond to industry-aligned problems.
In Progress: XR Smart Glasses for Real-Time Diagnostics
One of the current thesis initiatives underway involves the application of XR smart glasses to enhance real-time diagnostics and workforce training within industrial maintenance environments.
This research explores a system that will project contextual information—such as component specifications, diagnostic procedures, and safety guidance—directly into a technician’s field of view using smart glasses. By combining Unity, OpenXR, and Magic Leap SDK with computer vision and sensor fusion technologies, the project aims to reduce maintenance-related downtime and human error.
This work exemplifies how instruction in spatial interface design, object recognition, and software modularity—drawn directly from Karamian’s courses—is applied in building a technically viable, user-centered XR experience.
In Progress: VR-Based Training with Digital Twin Cobots
Another ongoing initiative focuses on virtual training environments for collaborative robots (cobots) using VR and digital twin modeling. This project seeks to simulate cobot-human interaction in a virtual environment using Meta Quest devices, thereby reducing the risk and cost associated with live training.
The system under development includes a physics-based digital twin of a cobot, integrated safety scenarios, and potential support for haptic feedback devices. Additionally, the platform will feature user performance tracking, allowing researchers to evaluate knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
The groundwork for this project—namely the simulation architecture and training system feedback loop—is shaped by lessons from Software Engineering and HCI, where students learn to manage performance, scalability, and user-centered design principles.
The Digital Twin as a Pedagogical and Technical Asset
A digital twin is not a mere visual representation—it is a living, interactive model that synchronizes with real-world systems. Within these projects, digital twins serve as the operational core:
- In the XR diagnostics project, they enable recognition and information overlay on physical machinery.
- In the VR cobot training project, they allow users to practice interaction in a simulated yet realistic environment.
These models offer students an avenue for understanding synchronization, simulation fidelity, and real-time data integration—topics deeply rooted in Karamian’s software engineering curriculum.
Conclusion: Structured Innovation Through Instruction
At CSUN, the fusion of theory and practice is not accidental—it is instructional by design. Through structured coursework, faculty mentorship, and real-world research problems, students are developing the next generation of immersive industrial solutions.
These XR and digital twin projects are not speculative exercises—they are actively being built. And as they evolve, they will provide invaluable case studies on how modern instructional design, coupled with emerging technologies, can reshape workforce training and system maintenance at scale.
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Bio
Vahé Karamian is a consultant concentrating on full-stack application and Digital Twin technology development, specializing in delivering enterprise solutions and platform engineering for training in Healthcare, Education, and Manufacturing facilities. Vahé is also a lecturer at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he lectures on Computer Graphics, HCI (Human Computer Interaction), Software Engineering and Software Management. Vahé is also the President of VRARA Los Angeles Chapter.
by Vahé Karamian, Department of Computer Science