Nova did an excellent show on fractals and understanding fractals helps us get a grip on how the holographic reality is constructed, which in turn, helps in figuring out how to tamper with it.

Hunting the Hidden Dimension—NOVA on fractals

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fractals/program.html

Combine the fractal idea with Stephan Wolframs ideas (a few formulas creating all of reality) and that lays the groundwork for thinking in exciting new directions.