Detection
Recognition that a potential participant or interaction source exists.
h/ai Primitive Language
Volume I
Agency Primitives
Agency primitives describe who or what participates in an interaction, how participants are detected, and the conditions under which interaction occurs.
Overview
The Agency family defines the participants within Human–AI interaction independently of implementation technology. It establishes the conditions required before interaction can occur, including detection, identity, participation, authority, and availability.
Agency primitives answer a fundamental question: Who or what is participating in this interaction?
Primitive Definitions
Presence
The existence of a detectable participant within an interaction.
Identity
The characteristics that uniquely distinguish one participant from another.
Source
The origin from which interaction is initiated.
Participation
The manner in which a participant contributes to an interaction.
Role
The function performed by a participant within an interaction.
Authority
The decision-making capability assigned to a participant.
Attention
The degree to which a participant is focused on an interaction.
Engagement
The current level of active participation within an interaction.
Availability
The readiness of a participant to participate in interaction.
Example: Public Kiosk
A multilingual kiosk begins interaction only after detecting a participant. The customer's spoken language is determined after interaction begins.
Detection ↓ Presence ↓ Identity Unknown ↓ Participation Customer ↓ Language Detection ↓ Interaction Begins
Agency Principle
Interaction cannot occur until one or more participants have been detected. Agency primitives establish who is interacting before any information, behavior, or temporal progression can be described.