Observer effect
Definition
In quantum mechanics, the observer effect is the way measuring a system disturbs it. People often mix it up with consciousness causing collapse, which few physicists accept.
On this site
The Observation dial is about how much attention a renderer spends, not about minds collapsing wave functions.
Role in the model
The Observation dial is about how much attention the renderer spends, not about consciousness collapsing the wave function. The sandbox keeps the two apart on purpose, because most physicists reject the popular version of the observer effect.
Related
14 short pages, one per thinker, each with its matching dial. See also the reading list.