Hidden Gem is an educational interactive installation designed for AMNH’s Halls of Gem and Mineral. Through a physical saw interface and a virtual cutting experience, visitors explore the process of selecting, cutting, and discovering what is hidden inside raw stones. A physical saw blade replica is used to trigger a virtual saw blade on the screen, allowing users to slice the stone open to see and learn what is hidden inside.
Concept Rendering
A Physical Saw Replica is pulled by the participant and trigger the cutting animation on screen.
Rendering for Halls of Gems and Mineral
User Flow
Asset Creation
Creating Gem Asset through Blender and Generative Ai
Hidden Gem
Unity, Plywood, Black Acrylic Sheet, PLA Plastic, Bike Chain and Gear, Touch Display, Electronics
2026
Hidden Gem
Using Rhino to create physical stone and saw replica and installation mockup.
Mechanism and Physical Computing
This project uses a chain-and-gear mechanism to translate the user’s up-and-down handle movement into rotary motion. The rotating gear drives a rotary encoder, which reads the direction and speed of the movement. This data is sent through the microcontroller to Unity, where it triggers animations in the game environment. By connecting a physical handle mechanism with real-time digital animation, .
Exhibition at American Museum of Natural History
