On Show: The 5th Dimensional Camera

When the theory of quantum physics was first developed the technological innovations that followed, including lasers and semiconductor electronics, transformed our world. Scientists are now working towards a second revolution, as they attempt to build a fundamentally new kind of machine: "a quantum computer that could manipulate the fabric of reality in order to perform feats that no mere supercomputer could ever hope to." But as work is underway to harness this weirdness of our subatomic world, what does quantum computing tell us about the underlying nature of the universe? Are we inhabiting just one of an infinite number of parallel worlds? And if so, what does that say about our place in existence? For the IMPACT! Exhibition, we collaborated with scientists from the Quantum Information Processing Project (QIP IRC), Oxford and Bristol, to explore what impact the theories of quantum computing could have on our sense of place and purpose in the universe. In the exhibition we present ‘The 5th Dimensional Camera’, a fictional device that captures glimpses of parallel universes suggested by quantum physics. How might we seek interact with these other worlds? Would we become jealous of our parallel selves? What would happen to our sense of morality if we knew that we had committed inconceivable acts in another world? More images here and here. This project is a collaboration between EPSRC, NESTA and RCA, and includes 16 unique collaborations between different science groups and designers. The exhibition is open from 16^th to 21^st March, 11:00am to 5:30pm, Royal College of Art, London.