Periodic Table Sandbox

An internal website showing prototypes and works-in-progress related to the Periodic Table Interactive Media Installation in the Hall of Gems and Minerals. You can view source code here and documentation here.

Interaction tests

These are interactive mock-ups that demonstrate a specific concept, idea, and/or interaction. These are not necessarily fully-realized experiences. These are listed chronologically starting with most recent.

  1. Mock-up of table with elements discovered over time (2020-09-09) - use slider on bottom move forward/backward in time
  2. Wall mock-up with formula hints (2020-09-03) - hover over minerals to see formulas
  3. Build and break 5 minerals (2020-08-06) - with a recipe card + attract loop animation
  4. Build and break a silicate, halide, and carbonate (2020-06-16) - Now with calcite
  5. Build and break a silicate and halide (2020-05-20) - Now with new assets with better shading/structures + smaller PT + initial explosion
  6. Build and break a silicate and halide (2020-03-18) - Similar to previous version, but with highlighting charges and key
  7. Build and break a carbonate v2 (2020-02-01) - Same as previous version, but with accurate sizes and attraction/repulsion behavior
  8. Build and break a carbonate v1 (2020-01-08) - Includes highlighting the periodic table and attraction animations. Built using Unity
  9. Build a mineral from a template (2019-09-27) - Select a mineral to begin with and build using a "ghosted" completed version as a template
  10. Tetrahedral structure (2019-09-06) - Visual and interaction tests for 3D stuctures. Alternative version where you add each individual atom.
  11. Basic molecule interaction with formulas (2019-08-06) - Same as previous interaction, but with the addition of formulas and animated bonds.
  12. Basic molecule interaction (2019-07-24) - Demonstration of simply combining atoms into molecules, highlighting the electrons. Feedback and takeaways:
    1. Somehow visualize the steps of the bonding process more slowly (e.g. by "instant-replay")
    2. Focus on chemical formulas (not structure); somehow show progress as you fill out a chemical formula (e.g. SO2)
    3. Try out adding layers of content that can be accessed by double-tapping
    4. Covalent bonds should be represented by an electron shared between the two outer shells
  13. Make or break (2019-06-18) - Combine elements into minerals, break apart minerals into elements. Feedback and takeaways:
    1. Would like to represent electrons and chemical bonds more accurately
    2. Using different environment contexts may not be in the scope of this experience.
  14. Periodic Table (2019-06-18) - Interact with the periodic table

Utilities

Used internally for testing hardware and software

  1. Physics test - Demonstrate physics-based interaction of multiple objects
  2. TUIO/Multi-touch test - A basic utility for testing/debugging multi-touch functionality on a TUIO device
  3. Multi-touch test - A basic utility for testing/debugging multi-touch functionality on a touch-enabled device